Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.

He was the son of Arthur Southwell, a boot trade edge setter, born in the October quarter of 1871 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire (son of Henry Southwell and Butler) and his wife Ada Southwell (nee Smart, married on the 4th June 1892 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, Leicester), a boot trade machinist, born on the 12th May 1871 in Belgrave and baptised on the 6th August 1873 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester (daughter of Matthew Smart and Emily Smith). Leonard George was born in the January quarter of 1896 in Belgrave and baptised on the 12th March 1896 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Belgrave, his siblings were, Arthur, born in the October quarter of 1892 and baptised on the on the 14th December 1892 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Belgrave, Edith Evelyn, born in the January quarter of 1898 and baptised on the 26th May 1901 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave and Henry, born in the April quarter of 1900 and baptised on the 26th May 1901 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, all his siblings were born in Belgrave, in March 1901 the family home was at 9, Shirley Street, Leicester. In April 1911 Leonard was employed as a worsted spinners junior clerk and was residing in the family home at 9, Shirley Street, Leicester, together with his father, a boot and shoe trade finisher, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a fish market clerk, Edith, a schoolgirl, Henry, a schoolboy, Doris, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1902 and baptised on the 5th October 1902 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, Ernest, a schoolboy, born in the July quarter of 1905 and baptised on the 1st October 1905 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave and Emily May, born on the 10th May 1908 and baptised on the 21st June 1908 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, the latter three siblings were all born in Belgrave. Leonard also had another sibling, Ada, born on the 3rd January 1912 in Belgrave and baptised on the 14th March 1912 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave.
Leonard enlisted/attested into Territorial Force on the 5th October 1914 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 3241. He gave his place of birth as Leicester and age as 19 years 240 days. He gave his present address as 9, Shirley Street, Leicester.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 5th October 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 19 years 240 days, that he was 5-feet 9 inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches and his physical development was described as good.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Arthur Southwell, 9, Shirley Street, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Posted. 4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 5/10/14.
Embodied service commenced. 5/10/14.
Embarked. With 4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 1/3/15.
Disembarked. Le Havre. 2/3/15
Wounded in action. Gunshot wound shoulder and right arm. In the Field. 30/4/15.
Admitted. To No.8 Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul. 30/4/15.
Transferred. Per No.1 Ambulance train. 30/4/15.
Admitted. To No.1 Australian Hospital, Treport. 1/5/15.
Discharged. From Hospital. 25/5/15.
Transferred. To Convalescent Depot, Rouen. 25/5/15.
Proceeded. To re-join 4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 9/6/15.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (paid). Vice Lance Corporal Laidlaw, promoted. In the Field. 18/9/15.
Killed in action. 13/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 5/10/14 – 1/3/15. 148 days.
France. 2/3/15 – 130/10/15. 226 days.
Total Service. 1 year 9 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 - At 9.00 am Battalion marched to SAILLY LABOURSE. Dinners and teas were cooked here. Rations for 134 men issued. At 5.15 pm Battalion marched to VERMELLES where stores were taken up. At 11.00 pm Battalion arrived in trenches.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Monday, November 15th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – The parents of Lance-Corporal LEONARD G. SOUTHWELL (No.2341), 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, received notification on Saturday morning from the War Office that their son was killed in action in France on October 13th. His parents reside at No.9, Shirley-street, Leicester.
On Friday, November 26th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. – LEICESTERS: FALLEN OR MISSING. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – L-C. L. G. SOUTHWELL, 4th Leicester’s, killed in action Oct. 13th. His home was at 9, Shirley-street, Belgrave.