Leonard Hiley

Another Hiley to lose his life in the First World War 103 years ago this week was Leonard Hiley.

Leonard was born in Eccles, Lancashire in about 1885. In 1905 he married Ethel May Whitehead in Weaste and a daughter Dora was born the following year. Leonard and his father Beaumont Hiley were both Tripe Dressers. In 1911 Leonard, Ethel May and Dora, along with another child Winston Beaumont were living with Ethel May’s father George Whitehead, now a widower. Another son Leonard was born in 1912.

Leonard enlisted in Salford in 1915 with the Lancashire Fusiliers 19th Battalion, the 3rd Salford Pals. Their first taste of action was at Thiepval Ridge in the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916, the Salford Pals being almost wiped out. Leonard was one of those killed in action on this day and his name is remembered on the Thiepval memorial in northern France.

Leonard Hiley's name on the Thiepval memorial

(Included courtesy of Steve Rogers, The War Graves Photographic Project)