Regimental number(s): 213317. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1803 – 38, Item: 106094, PDF: B1803 – SO38. Date of Birth: 27/08/1897 at Ridgetown, ON. Next of kin: Miss Elsie Clingersmith (Sister) ‘Next of Kin”, of Blenheim, ON. Brother of Roy. A single Labourer living at the Windsor Barracks, Windsor, ON. Previous service with the 21^st Regt. Guard. Attestation: 15/12/1915 at Windsor, ON.

Age: 18 yrs. 4 Mos. , Height: 5’ 9”, Girth: 38” , Complexion: Fresh, Eyes: Brown, Hair: Dark Brown, Weight: 150 #. Considered “Fit”. Served with 99^th Batt. – A Coy.

Leonard embarked from Halifax 8/05/16. Disembarked at Liverpool, England, Arv. 8/05/16. Transferred to the 35^th Cdn. 27/08/16 transferred to 19^th Bn. to France, 27/08/16. TOS 28/08/16, Joined Unit o/c 19^th Bn. 23/09/16. Reported ‘Sick’ 8/07/17 – returned to unit 18/07/17. Came down with Scabies 15/07/17.

Embarked at Halifax 8/05/16 and disembarked at Liverpool, England. Transferred to 35^th Cdn. 27/08/16. Transferred to 19^th Bn. to France 27/08/16 and joined the unit O/C 23/09/16.

Reported sick 8/07/17 – returned to unit 8/07/17 Scabies.

The battle for Hill 70 was, according to Cpl. Dewrd Barnes’s diary of his service in the 19^th Bn. “Was the greatest artillery battle I had ever seen.” Lt. General Arthur Currie did not like the idea of attacking without a specific tactical objective and did not want to waste soldiers needlessly trying to take the city of Lens, in the hope that it would divert the germans attention from Field Marshal Haig’s plan to clear the Belgium coast of U-Boat bases. “If we are to fight at all, let us fight for something worth having.”

Currie would attack Hill 70 on 15 August, 1917. The 19^th Bn. began teir advance at 04:10 and at 14:00 hours the 21^st Bn. called for relief and the 19^th was ordered to relieve them. Upon reaching the 21^st position there were few of the 21^st not killed, wounded and the 19^th was heavily  descimated for their efforts with as few as 27 men to cover 300 yards of trench. It is likely that Private Clingersmith was killed during this action.    

CLINGERSMITH, LEONARD. Private, Service No: 213317. KIA Date of Death: 15/08/1917; 19th Bn. Canadian Infantry. VIMY MEMORIAL. CWGC. In the field 15/08/17 “It Made You Think Of Home” the diary of Cpl. Deward Barnes 19^th Bn – Bruce Cane author.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cenotaph	Chatham and Kent County Cenotaph - Chatham
Sources	Chatham Daily Planet (27-08-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (27-09-1919), In Khaki - Blenheim Enlistment Book, Royal Canadian Legion Br. 185 60th Anniversary Book 1930-1990, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1803 – 38, “It Made You Think Of Home” the diary of Cpl. Deward Barnes 19th Bn – Bruce Cane author., LAC, GOH - Additional Information, CVWM
Supplemental Information	KIA Date of Death: 15/08/1917 VIMY MEMORIAL. CWGC.

Height	5'7"
Eye Colour	black
Age	17
Complexion	dark
Hair	black
Race	white
Birthplace	27/08/1897 at Ridgetown, ON.
Religion	Anglican
Last Place of Employment	Farming for Mr. Dibley, Cedar Springs
Average Earnings	2.50/day
Marital Status	single
When Enlisted	Dec. 1915
Where Enlisted	Windsor, Ontario
Next of Kin	Miss Elsie Clingersmith of Blenheim, ON.

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