Rushden Research Group: Leonard Upton

Driver Leonard Patenall Upton

55843 C Battery Royal Field Artillery

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Upton, of Montague-street, Driver Leonard Upton first enlisted on 18th February 1809 aged 19 years and 3 months, f

or 6 years and 6 more years in the Reserve.

So Leonard was already serving with the Royal Field Artillery when WWI started. He was promoted to Corpl. Sadler L. Upton, and spent more than 2½ years in Salonika.

Leonard first married Elsie M Bird, in 1922, and they had a daughter Irene in 1928, but sadly Irene died aged 1 year 11 months in July 1930. Elsie died in 1947.

In 1949 Leonard re-married Joyce Hirst, who had a young daughter, and together they had two sons, Ray and Richard.

Leonard (right) and two brothers

	This little book would be carried by Leonard throughout his service. Kindly loaned by his son.







			The two pages above were to be filled in with details to act as the soldier's will. Leonard had not filled in either form.

The Rushden Echo, 18th August 1916, transcribed by Gill Hollis

No Picnic in The Balkans - Rushden Soldier at Salonica
Intense Heat, with Cold Winds - Making Roads and Digging Trenches

Saddler Leonard Upton (Rushden), 55843, C Battery, R.F.A., with the Salonica Force, sends us the following letter:-

“Just a few lines to let you know the Rushden lads out here are quite well, and also myself. You do not read much about us, and I haven’t seen anything in the ‘Rushden Echo’ concerning us out here in the Balkans. Although we are not actually in it, we are doing our share, and I might say we had some rough weather to compete with last winter. Now we have intense heat, with cold winds, which is not at all comfortable, and if not careful we would soon be laid up in hospital. It would surprise a good many people to see what a great difference there is here to-day compared with last year.

“I saw in the ‘Rushden Echo’ of June 30th, a letter from here, written by a Rushden man, which I carefully read before writing these lines. He writes that the troops out here are having a fine picnic. Well, I don’t know about a picnic, as there has been plenty of work to do, making roads, trench digging, etc., which were not in existence before we landed here. I think I have travelled as much over this country and as near to the enemy lines as a good many, so I should know a bit about it.

“I am writing this on behalf of the Rushden lads that are out here, as if our wives and parents at home think we are only out here for a picnic, they may also think they have the right to do so at home. I have heard cases of wives and parents at home not troubling about the boys out here, because they think we are out here for enjoyment only. We have come out here to fight, so I should be very pleased if you would make use of this letter and insert in the good old Local Paper. I am quite well myself, and as long as we know thing are going along nicely at home we can get on with the business out here. I have been out here now eight months, and went through the winter, and am very pleased to say I have had no illness yet. I have done close on eight years in the Army and have a good experience of what it is like. I get the ‘Rushden Echo’ so I get all the Rushden News.

“The soldier who wrote that letter in the ‘Rushden Echo’ has never left the town of Salonica or he would not talk about picnics.”

Joyce died in 1979 aged 54, and Leonard died the following year aged 89. They are buried in Rushden Cemetery Grave H.69.


Joyce and her daughter	Leonard in later life

Upton Family