Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frank Henson, a wood labourer, born 21st October 1856 in Thrussington, Leicestershire and baptised on the 15th July 1860 in the Parish Church, Thrussington and his wife Ann Henson (nee Hopkins, married in the 2nd quarter of 1874 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), a charwoman, born 1855 in Costock, Nottinghamshire and baptised on the 28th January 1855 in St. Giles’s Church, Costock. Leonard was born 7th August 1890 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 6th September 1891 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough, his siblings were, John Joseph, a boiler maker, born 7th January 1875 in Costock and baptised on the 28th March 1875 in St. Giles’s Church, Costock, Edward Stevenson, an iron shaper, born in the 2nd quarter of 1876 in Thrussington and baptised on the 4th June 1876 in the Parish Church, Thrussington, William, an iron shaper, born in the 1st quarter of 1878 in Thorpe Acre, Leicestershire, Harry, a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1879 in Burton Bandalls, Leicestershire and George, a schoolboy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1881 in Belgrave, Leicester and baptised on the 16th October 1881 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, in April 1891 the family home was at Cambridge Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Leonard was residing as a visitor at 12, Grey Street, Derby, this being the family home of Joseph Frear, a blacksmith’s striker, born 1856 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Frear, born 1857 in Derby, also residing with Leonard was his sister Mary, Elizabeth born 21st March 1892 in Loughborough and baptised on the 17th July 1892 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough. In April 1911 Leonard was a serving soldier and was stationed at Marlborough Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire. Leonard also had a younger sibling, Lilian May, born in the 3rd quarter of 1894 in Loughborough and baptised on the 4th November 1894 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough.
Leonard was educated at Emmanuel Boys School, Loughborough, Leicestershire enlisting into the Coldstream Guards on the 11th June 1907 and he served for seven years before joining the Leicestershire Constabulary, being stationed at New Swannington, Leicestershire. On the outbreak of war he rejoined his old Regiment and was wounded on the 23rd September 1914 by a shell during the Battle of the Aisne, subsequently dying from his wounds two days later in Claridge’s Hotel in Paris. The doctor wrote that he was brought in on the night of the 23rd September, and that after being, “very brave and patient, he passed away quietly at half-past four on Friday the 25th.” He was buried in the Pantin Cemetery and a Company of French soldiers followed and fired the last shots. Leonard was unmarried.
The Brigade of Guards service records all exist, but were deposited in 2018 with the Ministry of Defence in Glasgow, the exception being the Scots Guards, whose service records are located in Edinburgh. Access to these records is available at the current cost of £30.00 per inquiry (2019). This makes it impractical for researchers who, like myself have in excess of over 400 members of the Brigade of Guards to research, as a consequence all that is known of Leonard from military documents that are available in the public domain is that he enlisted into the Brigade of Guards on the 8th June 1907, and at the completion of his training was posted as a Private to the Coldstream Guards, it is not known on what date he completed his first period of service with the Colours before his transfer to the Army Reserve. On the outbreak of war Leonard was mobilized as a Reservist, allotted the service number 7290 and posted to the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 12th August 1914. He was wounded on the 18th September 1914 and died from his wounds on the 25th September in Claridges Hospital, Paris. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 18 Sep-14 – SOUPIR. The enemy’s shells caused 2 casualties – Lance Corporal COLES killed and Private HENSON wounded. Situation same as 17th.
On Friday October 9th 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “THE DEATH OF PRIVATE HENSON.” – The following letter has been received relative to the death of Private L. Henson from Dr. Grace Judge, Women’s Hospital Corps, and is dated September 27. – “I write to tell you of the sad news of the death of your brother, Private L. Henson, No.7290, of the Coldstream Guards. He was brought into this hospital on Wednesday, 23rd September at night, with a shell wound. . . .We did all we could for him, but there was little we could do except keep him comfortable. He was very brave and very patient, and he passed away quietly at half-past four on Friday, the 25th. . . . He was buried this morning; the first part of the service was held in our mortuary chapel. An English clergyman took the service. A company of French soldiers came, and several of the members of the staff of this hospital went to his service. The coffin was covered by the Union Jack, and on it was placed a laurel wreath, and there was another wreath with the words “Un souvenir Francais,” on it, given by some French soldiers. The company of French soldiers followed him to the grave and fired the last shots.
And in the same issue under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – News has been received in Loughborough of the death in hospital in France of Constable Henson, a reservist of the Coldstream Guards, who was stationed at New Swannington, Coalville, injured by a shell on September 23rd he died two days later, and was buried with full military honours, his funeral being attended by French soldiers.
On Saturday October 10th 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “SWANNINGTON POLICE CONSTABLE DIES FROM WOUND.” Information has been received at Whitwick that Police constable Leonard Henson, of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, a native of Loughborough, died in action in France on the 23rd September, and was buried on the 25th. Henson who was a first class Army Reservist, joined the Leicestershire Constabulary about nine months ago. He died from a shell wound, and it is understood that a nurse communicated the circumstances to be conveyed to his fiancée, Miss Ida Stacey, whose mother is the wife of Mr. Waterfield, proprietor of the Duke of Newcastle Inn at Whitwick. Henson was a man of fine physique, and his soldierly bearing was evident in civil life. He was stationed at Swannington.