Leigh’s parent’s William & Hannah Piercy ( nee Hewitt) were married on the 9th December 1876 at Mold (Mold Parish Registers, Page 19 No 37).
Leigh Piercy was born about 1894 at Hawarden and on the 1901 census the family was living at New Road, Pentrobin. Head of the household was William, 58 a Coal Miner- hewer. His wife Hannah was 43. Their children were Kate,18, Samuel, 17 a Farm labourer, Fred, 15, Lizzie, 12, Ellen 10 and Leigh, 7.
In 1911 the family was still in New Road, Pentrobin. Hannah had died as William, 59 was listed as a widower. He was still a Coal Miner- hewer. He stated on the census form that he had been married 35 years and 9 children had been born but 3 had died. The listed children in the household were Samuel, 28 a Bricklayer’s Labourer, Leigh, 18 was a platelayer with the Railway and Lizzie was 22.
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms Leigh’s regimental information and also tells us that he was born and lived in Hawarden, and that he enlisted in Buckley. His medal card also on ancestry details his medal entitlement.
Leigh’s Army Records have survived and are accessible on ‘ancestry’ but are not in very good condition. He attested on what looks like 12th December 1915 when he was 22 years and 6 months old. His trade was ‘labourer’ and his father, William, was listed as his next of kin. His medical took place on 4th July 1916. He was 23 years and 1 month old, 5 ft 3 3/4 inches tall, weighed 143 lbs and had a chest measurement of 36 and 1/2 inches. His physical development was good but there was a problem with his teeth.
The records contain correspondence with Leigh’s father concerning his personal effects of which there were ‘none. There is also some internal army correspondence concerning the whereabouts of Leigh’s grave. Here is the correspondence…
8th Oct. —The Officer in Charge, No. 2 Record Office, No. 4 District, Shrewsbury. – I have received an enquiry regarding the location of the grave of 44032, Private L. Piercy of 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was killed in action 26th September 1917. As I understand the records of this Battalion have been forwarded to you I shall be glad if they can be searched to see if there is any information in same which would help in enabling me to trace this soldier’s grave. War Office, Winchester House, St. Jame’s Square, London S.W.1
Letter from London, St. James’s Square Sir, With reference to your letter S.JL/23/11476 dated the 8th Inst., I beg to inform you that a search has been made in the records of this Unit in my possession, but no information concerning the burial of No. 44032 Private L. Piercy, 10, Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers can be found. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, – Lieut. For Lt. Colonel. Officer i/c. No. 2 Infantry Records, No.4 District. Riding School, Shrewsbury. 9th October 1919
A living relatives list was produced by the family in 1919. It included his father William Piercy 41 of Pentrobin, Hawarden. Two full-blood brothers, Samuel 36 and William 41. Two full blood sisters Lizzie Davies 31 and Kate Davies 37 and a host of nephews, nieces, aunts and uncles.
An Army Casualty Form tells us he enlisted on 5th July 1916 for the ‘Duration of the War’ and lists his postings (which are very difficult to interpret) but we see that from February 1917 he was troubled with ‘Trench feet’ and he was hospitalised to England on HS Panama on the 27th February 1917. He obviously recovered and returned to active service in Flanders where he was killed in action in September that same year.
There is an index card for Leigh in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. (Card Penymynydd F6). It confirms the regimental details at the top of this page and was signed on the 10th September 1919 by W. Piercy ( his Father? ).
Leigh Piercy is also listed on the memorial in the Church in Penymynydd
