Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Leadenham a farmer, born 1854 in Wymondham, Leics., and his wife Sarah Jane Leadenham (nee Dexter), born 1869 in Melton Mowbray, Leics. William Edward was a schoolboy and was born in 1897 in Bow, Middx., he had one sibling, a brother Thomas Henry, a farm worker, born 1879 in Mile End Old Town, Middx., in April 1911 the family home was at Eye Kettleby, Leics. On Friday August 10th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – LOCAL SOLDIER WOUNDED. Mr T. Leadenham, farmer, Old Guadaloupe, has received news that his son, William has been severely wounded. On Friday August 24th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – DEATHS. DIED OF WOUNDS. LEADENHAM.- On August 17th, William Edward Leadenham, youngest son of T. Leadenham, Guadaloupe, Eye Kettleby, aged 19 years. In the same issue the following further article was published under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – MELTON SOLDIERS KILLED. Yesterday Mr and Mrs T. Leadenham, Guadaloupe, Eye Kettleby, received official information that their youngest son, Private William Edward Leadenham, died of wounds in hospital in France, on Friday last. He was shot in the head on July 25th, his injuries being at once recognised as of a serious character. Private Leadenham, who would have been twenty years of age had he lived until next Tuesday, was educated at the Melton Grammar School, and spent some time subsequently on his father’s farm. He joined the army in September 1916. On Friday August 31st 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – THANKS. Mr and Mrs Leadenham wish to thank all friends for their kind letters of sympathy to them in their recent bereavement.