Bertram Leney dies (1918)

Post date: Nov 14, 2013 5:35:12 PM

Extract from Dover Express of 11th October 1918 under heading of War Deaths.

LENEY.~On the 3rd October, at Streatham Hall Military Hospital, Exeter, Cadet Bertram Leney, R.F.A., beloved son of the late Mr. Augustus Leney and Mrs. Leney, of Orpines, Wateringbury, aged 30 years.

Extract from Kent Messenger of 12th October 1918

THE LATE MR. BERTRAM LENEY.

Much regret has been occasioned by the death of Cadet Bertram Leney, R.F.A., youngest son of the late Mr. Augustus Leney and Mrs. Leney, of Orpines, Wateringbury, who, as reported in our Third Edition last Saturday, passed away at Streatham Hall Mili­tary Hospital, Exeter, on Thursday October 3rd, an operation having taken place some ten days previously. Only thirty years of age, he was educated at Eastbourne and Upping­ham, and had been connected with the firm of Messrs. Frederick Leney and Sons, Ltd, Wateringbury, practically ever since he left school. In June of last year he joined the Forces, and was in the Royal Field Artillery Cadet School, training for a commission, when he was taken ill. Mr. Leney married a daughter of Mr. H. Baxter, and leaves a widow and two young children.

The funeral, which was of a semi-military character, took place at All Saints’ Church, West Farleigh, on Tuesday afternoon. The casket containing the remains was removed from Streat­ham Hall Military Hospital, Exeter, to Water­ingbury station, on Saturday, and thence to Orpines, where his parents resided for many years, and where his mother still lives. There was a crowded congregation at the service, including, in addition to the relatives, many friends from the neighbourhood, as well as the employees of the firm. Mrs. Link presided at the organ and played “I waited for the Lord,” “But the Lord is mindful of His own,” “O rest in the Lord” (all by Mendelssohn), and “I know that my Redeemer liveth ”(Handel). The offi­ciating clergy were the Rev. J. R. Leigh, Rural Dean of Malling and Vicar of Yalding, and the Rev. A. B. Littlewood, Vicar of East Farleigh (the Vicar, the Rev. R. Griffith, being in Ire­land, doing duty as a Chaplain to the Forces). The long procession was met at the churchyard gate by the clergy, who preceded it to the little church. Mr. Littlewood reading the opening sentences of the Burial Office. Six men of the Royal West Kent Regt. acted as bearers, the casket being enveloped in the Union Jack.

The mourners were: Mrs. Leney (mother), Mr. F. B. Leney and Mr. Leonard Leney (brothers), Mr. H. Baxter (father-in-law), Mr, J. Baxter (brother- in-law); Mr. Herbert Green and Miss Lilian Green (uncle and aunt), Mrs. Herbert Leney and Mrs. Sedgewick (aunts), Mr. Edward Leney (uncle), and Mr. Harry Leney. Those connected with the firm present included: Messrs. Richard Tapply (manager), C. H. Stanley, (secretary), H. F. Green (cashier), E. D. Dickerson (brewer), W. Pearce (gasworks manager), E. Anderson (surveyor), H.J. Ratcliffe (traveller), F. Collins (farm bailiff), W. H. Whyman (manager of the Chatham branch stores), W. H. Downs (Tun­bridge Wells), and J. Crumbie (one of the principal tenants). Among others who attended were the Rev. J. A. Wray (Rector of Teston), Miss Brown, Mr. Kenneth McAlpine (Loose), Councillor Laurence Green (Maidstone), Mr. and Mrs. R. French (Wateringbury), Messrs. W. P. Dickinson and Bernard A. Smythe (Maidstone), Percy Good (representing Messrs. Style and Winch, Ltd.), Humphrey Wickham (Yalding), W. Phillips, G. Chambers, John Charlton (Ton­bridge), P. Cronk, W. J. Hawes, Chitty S. Cheeseman, H. Fairman, and many others.

Mr. Littlewood took the service, in the church, which included Psalm “Lord, Thou hast been our refuge,” and the hymn “ Fight the good fight with all thy might.” The organist played the Dead March in “Saul” as the cortege left the church, and the Rural Dean read the service at the graveside. The interment took place in a grave next to that of his uncle, the the late Mr. Herbert Leney, and the sides had been effectively adorned with maiden-hair ferns and white chrysanthemums by Mr. Neale, of West Farleigh. It was an impressive scene as the big congregation of men—friends of the deceased Cadet joined at the close of the ser­vice in the hymn which has become so well known during the last four years, “O God our help in ages past.” Then followed the Bless­ing; the firing of three volleys and the sounding of the Last Post by men of the Royal West Kent Regt.

Beautiful floral tributes, some of them being of exquisite design, were sent by the following:

Gladys; Mrs. Leney; Mr. H. B. Leney; Mr. Leo­nard Leney; Mr. and Mrs. H. Baxter; Margery Baxter; Jim and Charlie; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Green (uncle and aunt); Miss Lilian Green; Mr. Harry Leney; Aunt Norah (Mrs. Sedgewick); Aunt Rose (Mrs. Herbert Leney); Ethel and Harry ; Mr. and Mrs.Laurence Green; From Thorndale; Mr. J. Wilcox; Mr. W. J. Hawes; Mrs. W ood-Payne; Commander and Mrs.

Gelliboard; Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and daughters; Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Stevens; Miss Peters and nephews (Cuxton); Mr. Edward Goodwin; Dr. and Mrs. Wolseley Lewis; Mr. W. H. Downs; Mrs. Frederick Hore, Miss Olivia Hore and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hore; Mr. and Mrs. W . E. Urquhart ; Mr. Percy Cronk; Tradesmen at Wateringbury; Maids at Orpines, and Randall, Walter and Mrs. Ralph; Staff and Employees at Phoenix Brewery; Bailiff and Employees at Pelican Farm, Mr. Benfield, of Wateringbury, carried out the funeral arrangements.

Extract from Kent and Sussex Courier of 18th October 1918

Mrs. A. Leney of Orpines, Wateringbury, Mrs. Bertram Leney and the other members of the family wish to express their sincere thanks to the many friends who have written to sympathise with them in their great sorrow.

Extract from South Eastern Gazette of 26th November 1918

LENEY —November 18th, at Forest Hill, Hart­ford, Cheshire, to Gladys, widow of Cadet

Bertram Leney, of Orpines, Wateringbury—a daughter.

In his file at the National archives, Kew (WO374/41689 ) there is a R.A.M.C. "report" dated 12/2/1919 (i.e. a considerable time after his death), from the medic involved as follows:

"To the best of my recollection the cholecystitis cholangitis had been present about three weeks. The peritonitis was I think partly local in the region of the gall bladder during the last four days. The disease was due to an acute infection of the Biliary Tract by the Bacillus Cot Comminus." The file notes the only operation was on 27th September 1918. Elsewhere the file cites Peritonitis as the cause of death- usually fatal pre-antibiotics.

Probate was granted on an estate valued at £23,953 18s. 3d. The National archives file contains a letter from the army about estate duty stating that under the Death Duties (Killed in war) Act 1914 remission of death duty applies "while on active service against an enemy." It notes that that the army classifies all troops including those at home as being on active service.

When Bertram applied for admission to an Officer Cadet Unit his application (in the above file in the National Archives) records his d.o.b. as 7/7/88 at Edingthorpe, Maidstone; his schools as St. Andrews, Eastbourne and Uppingham; he had served as a private (11490) since June 1917 in the Inns of Court O.T.C.; he was able to ride; a moral certificate was signed by the vicar of Wateringbury, Greville Livett; his occupation was given as Managing Director of Brewery Company. He certified himself as fit as did a doctor in August 1917. Was category "A", 5ft. 10¹/2 inches tall; 12st. 7 lb; chest between 37 and 40 ¹/2 inches; vision was 6/6.

On 14/2/1918 he applied for 2 months leave "on national grounds to assist Ministry of Food" but this was never sanctioned before his death.