Leonard Thomas Archer

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

Leonard Thomas Archer was born on the 31st of October 1911, according to the Parish Registers of St. Barnabas, Dulwich, London and baptised on the 17th of December 1911, the son of Henry James & Harriett Archer, 27, Tell Grove, Dulwich.

I found the marriage of Henry James Archer & Harriett Cross, in the Parish Registers of St. John, Winchester in the County of Hampshire. They had married on the 16th of April 1906. Henry James Archer was 29 and a Jeweller at 55, High Street, Wandsworth. Harriet Cross was 31 and a Spinster who lived at 12, St. John’s Street and her father George Cross was a Wool Sorter. Their witnesses were George Cross and Leah Cross.

The 1911 census sees the young family living at 27, Tell Grove, East Dulwich, S.E. and this source tells us more about the family. Henry James Archer was head of the family, age 35 years and was a Silversmith & Jeweller (Manager) who was born in Romsey, Hants. Harriett Archer was 37 years old and see that three children had been born to them but sadly one had died. Louis George Archer was 3 years old and Gladys Annie Archer was 1½ years old, both born in Wandsworth, London.

We next find them in the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939 and they are living at 86, Waterloo Road, Lambeth. There is a slight discrepancy in Leonard's date of birth as it is recorded as 31 October 1912 as opposed to 1911 but we find out that he is working as a Letterpress Machine Minder. He also had a younger sister who had been born in 1915.

Leonard would find himself in the 1st Hampshire Regiment and involved in an historic battle on D-Day where he landed with his battalion on Gold Beach. The British Army Casualty List shows his name on the list of wounded, but a subsequent list states that he had been 'Previously reported Wounded 6.6.44 now reported died of Wounds'. He was probably buried the day he died at Asnelles-sur-Mer and on the 28th of October 1944 he was reinterred at Bayeux British Cemetery where he now rests.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Leonard Archer. If you are aware of one or you are related to Leonard we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.