CLAUDE THOMAS LEEKS
Born: 1887, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk.
Died: 27th February 1921; age 33; Died after much suffering at Colchester, Essex from wounds received in action on the 26th March 1915. Served 18 years.
Residence: 40, Finchley Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment date: 1903.
Rank: Staff Sergeant; Service Number: 5819145
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Grave Reference:
JA.IA.3.
Ipswich.
CENSUS
1891 Cottage, Upsher Green, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk.
Claude was 3 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
John Leeks, 52, a Farm Labourer, born Little Waldingfield, Suffolk.
Sarah Ann Leeks (nee Bowers), 49, born Great Waldingfield, Suffolk.
Agnes Selina Leeks, 20, born Great Waldingfield.
Frederick Charles Leeks, 14, born Great Waldingfield.
Annie Rosa Leeks, 12, born Great Waldingfield.
Walter William Leeks, 10, born Great Waldingfield.
Ernest Nice Leeks, 8, born Great Waldingfield.
Robert William Leeks, 6, born Great Waldingfield.
Evelyn Mary Leeks, 10 months, Great Waldingfield.
1901 Cottage, Upsher Green, Great Waldingfield.
Claude was 13 years old, a Back House Boy on a Farm. He was living with his parents.
John, 62, an Agricultural Labourer.
Sarah, 58.
1911 Cyprus Command, Polymedia Camp, Cyprus.
Claude was 25 years old, a Soldier ranked Lance Corporal and a Cook, in the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment.
In 1916, Ipswich, Claude married Ethel Hannah Brown, born 1894, Nacton, Suffolk.
They had 2 children:
Violia May Leeks, born May 1917, Ipswich.
Mitchell C.T. Leeks, born 1920, Ipswich.
Claude was a Freemason, and a member of the Felix United Service Lodge, number 3833, Felixstowe, Suffolk – Passing 23rd April 1919 – Raising 22nd July 1919 – Certificate 24th November 1919. He was also a member of the Abbeygate Lodge, number 4219, Colchester, Essex, and the Comrades Lodge, number 2976, Colchester – Date of Initiation 19th April 1920.
Soldiers’ Effects to Ethel H. Leeks – widow.
Claude was later added to the war memorial at St. Lawrence Church, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk.
11th March 1921, Suffolk Chronicle And Mercury newspaper.
MILITARY FUNERAL AT IPSWICH.
With due military honours the funeral of Staff-Sergt. C.T. Leeks, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, and whose home was at 40, Finchley Road, Ipswich, took place at Ipswich Cemetery, on Saurday. Sergt. Leeks who died at Colchester, as a result of wounds received in action in 1915, although only 33, had seen eighteen years service with the colours, having been stationed at Bury, Colchester, Woolwich, Malta, Egypt, Cypus, Syria, and other places, and leaves a young widow and two children. The deceased soldier, who was born at Waldringfield, Sudbury, was the youngest of a family of fourteen, and his wife one of a family of sixteen. He was a prominent Freemason, and the universal respect and esteem in which he was held was evidenced by the number of mourners who were present at the last rites.
The firing party was furnished from details of the 2nd Suffolks, stationed at Colchester, under Lieut. J.R. Sturdy, M.C., six sergeants acting as bearers, and the gun-carriage being provided by the R.F.A battery now stationed at Ipswich Barracks.
The officiating clergyman was the Rev. C.F.T. Parsons, who, in the course of his address, paid a high tribute to the deceased’s unblemished character.
Amongst the immediate mourners were the widow, brothers and sisters, Mrs. Brown (mother-in-law), Messrs. Robert Theobald, Charlie Olliver, A. Brown, J. Brown, W. Fisk, J. Irving, H. Wells, and F. Baldry (brothers-in-law); Mrs. Fisk, Mrs. E. Wells, F. Leeks, Mrs. Irving, Miss Baldry, Mrs. Brown, Miss M. Wells, Mrs. Syrett, and Miss J. Brown (sisters-in-law); Messrs. P. Theobald, J. Leeks, H. Leeks, W. Fisk, and L. Leeks (nephews); Miss L. Fisk (niece), Mr. Middleditch (Colchester), Mr. Moody, and Mr. Andrews (London).
Included in a large number off handsome floral tributes were those from Col. and Mrs. Peebles, officers of the 2nd Suffolk Regiment, sergeants of the 2nd Suffolk Regiment, Mr. and Mrs. Middleditch, Lodge at Head Office, London, and Lodge at Colchester.
Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion:
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