Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Foster Stokes, a shepherd, born 1862 in Drayton, Leicestershire and his wife Constance Jane Stokes (nee Tirrel, married in the 2nd quarter of 1886 in the Kettering, Northamptonshire district)), born 1867 in Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire. Leonard Joseph, was born in the 2nd quarter of 1897 at Fern Farm, Hallaton, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Edith Emily, born 1889 and Thomas Tyrrell, born 1891, the latter two siblings were both born in Drayton, Constance Mary, born 1893, Elizabeth Grace, born 1898 and Cecil Jesse, born 1901, the latter three siblings were all born at Fern Farm, Hallaton, in March 1901 the family home was at Hallaton. In April 1911 Leonard was employed as a general farm worker, and was residing in the family home at Bradley Priory, Blaston, Leicestershire, together with his father, a farm shepherd, his mother and siblings, Grace, a schoolgirl, Cecil, a schoolboy, Margaret Ellen, a schoolgirl, born 1903 and Mildred Martha, born 1905, the latter two siblings were both born at Fern Farm, Hallaton, John Lewis, born 1908 at Bradley Priory, Blaston.
The War Diary records: 28 Mar-15 – ST. ELOI. Draft of 90 N.C.O.’s and men arrived. 2nd Lieutenant J. NEWINGTON joined 2nd CHESHIRE REGIMENT, 84th Brigade. Battalion took over trenches East of ST. ELOI with Battalion Headquarters at VOORMEZEELE. Casualty one man killed.
The War Diary records: 29 Mar-15 – ST. ELOI. Battalion in trenches. Casualties killed, 2nd Lieutenant R. WILSON-RAE, 3 other ranks. Wounded 2nd Lieutenant C. G. BAYNE, eleven other ranks.
On Friday May 7th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – MEDBOURNE SOLDIER KILLED. – The news of the death of Pte. Leonard Stokes (killed in action at Neuve Chappelle) has been received in Medbourne. Pte. Stokes, who was 19 years of age, attended Medbourne School, and afterwards worked for Mr. T. Burton, of Medbourne Grange. When the war broke out he joined the Suffolks.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Born at Fearn Farm Cottage high up above the Allexton Road in Hallaton parish, son of Thomas a farm labourer and his wife Constance. The family were originally from nearby Drayton. He was baptised in St Michael and All Angels, Hallaton along with his younger brother Cecil on 27th September 1900. Leonard is recorded on the Medbourne School Roll as having previously attended Hallaton School so presumably the family were later living for a time in Medbourne. Leaving school at aged 14 he worked as a farm lad. When war broke out, Leonard enlisted at Kettering and was enlisted as private 3082 into the 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment. At the time he and his family were living in Middleton. They had moved there in September 1912. After a period of training he was sent to France where he arrived on 23rd February 1915. He was most likely one of a large draft of officers and 330 other ranks that joined the regiment in their billets at Locre (modern day Loker) just two miles south-west of Kemmel. Three days later he was in the front line trenches subject to shelling. On the 14th March they were due to be relieved but were delayed by a particularly intense bombardment. By the time they arrived back in billets at Locre the Battalion had lost 7 officers and 42 other ranks killed in their short stay on the front line. After a short stay in billets, back in the frontline the 29th March was a quiet and routine day. The Battalion war diary reported one officer and 3 other ranks killed. Leonard was one of those, apparently killed by a sniper. He had been in France for just over one month. Leonard was buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No.3 and his name was carved onto both the Medbourne and Cottingham war memorials –which serves for the village of Middleton as well.

Information (including photograph) kindly provided by Dennis Kenyon.