Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Laundon, a gas stoker, born 1859 in Whetstone, Leicestershire and his wife Amelia Annie Laundon (nee Parker, married in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in the Leicester district), born 1868 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Jesse George was born in the 2nd quarter of 1896 in Whetstone, his siblings were, William Thomas, born 1895, Mabel Annie, born 1898 and Amy Florence, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Whetstone, also residing in the family home was Jesse’s widowed paternal step Grandfather, John Bates, a stocking framework knitter, born 1830 in Whetstone, in March 1901 the family home was at 2, Sunnyside, Whetstone. In April 1911 Jesse was employed as a mechanic and fitter and was residing in the family home at Sunnyside, Whetstone, together with his father, a gas stoker, his mother and siblings, Thomas, a carpenter, Mabel, a silk winder, Amy, Gertrude Alice, born 1903, Nellie, born 1905 and Edna May, born 1908, the latter three siblings were all born in Whetstone. Before the war Jesse had been a bell ringer at St. Peter’s Church in the village, and having also been a member of the Boy Scouts, his name is recorded on the Roll of Honour of the Boy Scouts of the Leicester Association. And today Laundon Way, in Whetstone reminds us of the sacrifice made by Jesse on that fateful day in September 1916.
Jesse attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours and in the Reserve.) on the 7th September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Whetstone, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 150 days and his trade or calling as gardener. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Thomas Laundon, his mother Annie Laundon and his brother Thomas Laundon, all of Sunnyside, Whetstone, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10½ inches in height, weighed 138 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had brown eyes. His physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 7th September 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 14704 on the 7/9/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/9/14. Deprived of 7 days pay for misconduct on the 11/3/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. He was awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2, the offence being. “Speaking in an improper manner to a N.C.O.” In the field on the 6/3/16. Killed in action, in the field on the 25/9/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 7/9/14 – 28/7/15 324 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 25/9/16 1 year 60 days. Total service 2 years 19 days. Jesse was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Jesses’s father Thomas Laundon on the 14th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Herbert Barrowcliffe, Justice of the Peace, Brookside, Blaby on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Thomas Laundon. Mother of soldier, Amelia Annie Laundon. Full blood brothers of soldier, Thomas William Laundon, age 24. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mabel Annie Laundon, age 21. Amy Florence Laundon, age 18. Gertrude Alice Laundon, age 16. Nellie Laundon, age 14. Edna May Laundon, age 11. Jesse’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 25 Sep-16 - The morning was spent in making final preparations for attack. Enemy shelling not heavy and a few casualties were sustained. At 12.35pm waves were formed up in front of trenches. At 12.37pm the advance commenced, “C” and “D” Companies in extended order, “A” and “B” Companies in artillery formation, enemy immediately commenced an extremely intense and deep barrage. At 12.45pm the first two platoons of “D” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but sustained heavy casualties. All the Company officers becoming casualties, 2nd Lt A. E. PETER, 2nd Lt. W. S. GILBERT, CSM POTTERTON were all killed, 2nd Lt. CLARK was wounded. The remnants of the first 2 waves of “C” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but owing to machine gun fire from the right, and the Brigade on the right, having failed to take GIRD TRENCH, the party were all killed or wounded. 2nd Lt. RENNIE was killed in GIRD TRENCH, Lt. HENWOOD was wounded. Captain WEBB wheeled the 3rd and 4th waves of “C” Company and formed a defensive flank down SUNKEN ROAD facing right. At 1.00pm Captain WEBB was wounded and CSM RHODES was killed. “C” Company suffered extremely heavy casualties from machine gun fire. “A” and “B” Companies advanced and established themselves in NEW TRENCH, BULL TRENCH and PATROL TRENCH and shell holes in the rear. Battalion HQ advanced from LEWIS TRENCH to PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Captain ALLBERRY led “A” Company forward but was immediately killed by machine gun fire from the right flank. Lt. HARDY, 2nd Lt. LEWIS, CSM RICE and many of Company becoming casualties through the same cause. Lt. Col. HAIG was wounded in the arm in PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Battalion HQ advanced to BULL TRENCH. At 2.00pm the remainder of Battalion HQ viz: Lt. Col. HAIG, Captain POPHAM (8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT), Lt. TOOTH and 3 orderlies advanced to NEW TRENCH. Captain POPHAM and the 3 orderlies were wounded. At 2.35pm the advance hung up on account of machine gun fire and rifle fire. Enemy still occupying GIRD TRENCH on right of SUNKEN ROAD. Lt. Col. HAIG and Lt. TOOTH advanced to NEW TRENCH and finding it empty, crossed over to GOAT TRENCH. Only dead and wounded men were found in GOAT TRENCH, accordingly Lt. Col. HAIG and Lt. TOOTH in anticipation that the front two Companies had reached GIRD TRENCH, again advanced to PILGRIMS WAY where 40 other ranks of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were found without any officer. Lt. Col. HAIG decided to remain and hold on with the 40 other ranks until reinforcements arrived to clear GIRD TRENCH on right. At 3.00pm connection with 55th Division in GIRD TRENCH on the left of PILGRIMS WAY was established. A bombing group of 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT was organised and bombed down GIRD TRENCH on the right of PILGRIMS WAY for 50 or 60 yards. Many of the enemy were killed and 12 were taken prisoner. Owing to the lack of bombs, a block was established, and a Lewis gun posted near the block. Lt. Col. HAIG sent numerous reports on the situation to Brigade HQ, only two of which reached Brigade, the orderlies being either killed or wounded. Heavy shelling all the time. At 8.00pm connection with Brigade was established through 2nd Lt. KELLY. During the night the ROYAL ENGINEERS constructed a strong point at N.32.a.1.9. The night was spent digging in and consolidating position. The enemy seemed to be working round behind PILGRIMS WAY, but did not attack. From zero (12.35pm) to 5.30pm, the enemy kept up a heavy and very deep barrage becoming intense at times.