L/Cpl 17928 Leonard Herbert Pringle

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: I.A.7

Leonard Herbert was born in Liverpool in the first quarter of 1894 the third of seven children born to William Washington Pringle, a greengrocery manager, and his wife Sarah (nee Calland), who married at Holy Trinity, Wavertree, on 24^th December 1888, when Sarah gave her address as 8 Thingwall Road, Wavertree and William’s address was in Hackney, London. William Washington Pringle was a manager in the “greenfruit trade”. Leonard Herbert, was the eldest of their three sons. He was baptised on 01st April 1894 at St Bridget's Church, Wavertree. The family address at this time was 67 Thorneycroft Road, Liverpool.  

The 1901 Census shows the family at 63 Claremont Road, Wavertree. Leonard is 7 years of age and lives with his parents and four siblings. His father is 39 years of age and a manager in the fruit trade, whilst his mother is 38. His siblings are recorded as; Evelyn C. aged 11, Gertrude E. aged 9, Edgar W. aged 4 and Leslie H. aged 1.    

By the time of the 1911 Census the family are living at 58 Rathbone Road, Wavertree. Leonard, aged 17 years, is an apprentice in a shipping office. Father William is aged 49, mother Sarah is aged 48 and they have been married for 22 years and have had seven children, all of whom have survived. His siblings are listed as; Evelyn Cavana a 21 year old dressmaker, Gertrude Ethel aged 19, Edgar William aged 14, Leslie Harold aged 11, Irene Alexander aged 8 and Sydney Hamilton aged 6.   

Leonard enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02^nd September 1914, joining the 19th battalion as Private 17928. He gave his age as 19 years 224 days, his occupation as shipping clerk and his 5 year apprenticeship ending the previous November, and his next of kin as his father at 29 Brougham Road, Seacombe. He was described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 122lbs, 37” chest, with a fresh complexion, fair hair and blue eyes, and religion Church of England. 

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 19^th September 1914 and arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His service file, soldiers effects, pension and SDGW both say that he was killed on 03^rd July 1916 but CWGC says 01^st July and this is the date shown on his headstone in Peronne Road Cemetery.

Graham Maddocks at Pages 85 and 87 in his book speculates that Leonard was probably the first Pal killed on 01^st July 1916. Attached to 89^th Trench Mortar Battery, Leonard, with others, was in a “Russian Sap”, which was an underground trench in which were sited Stokes Mortars, and which remained covered until the final bombardment began when those manning it removed the “roof” and fired their mortars.  Leonard was one of those thus engaged and Maddocks quotes a Private H. Redhead, 20^th Battalion and 89^th Trench Mortar Battery, who says:

“We had four guns and a chap called Pringle was the gunner on one gun; he and a mate laid out twelve shells ready for firing, there being a hole at the end of the sap to fire them through. In their excitement they knocked one shell over and it started to go off. His mate went to one end of the sap and Pringle tried to get out but the shell went off, killing him”.

His death was reported in both the Liverpool Echo on 13th July and the Wallasey News on 15th July 1916:

Lance-Corporal Leonard H. Pringle, of the Liverpool Pals, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Pringle, of 29, Brougham-road, Seacombe, has been killed by shrapnel shell. He joined the army at the outbreak of the war, and went to France in November. He served his time with Messrs. Larrinaga, ship-owners, and was highly esteemed.  

Liverpool Daily Post 26th July 1916 

PRINGLE - Mr and Mrs W. W. Pringle and family, 29 Brougham Road, Seacombe, sincerely thank all relatives and friends for their kind sympathy in the loss of their beloved son Len (Pals), killed in action. 

A more indepth report appeared in the Wallasey News:

The death is announced of Lance Herbert Pringle (23), of the 19th King's Liverpool Regiment, who was killed in action on July 1st. Death, which came instantaneously, was caused by the explosion of a shell, and at the time deceased was attached to a trench mortar battery. Several sorrowing chums carried out the burial service the same day, and a cross was placed on the grave before leaving.

Deceased, who resided with his parents at 29, Brougham Road, Seacombe, was a familiar figure in Liverpool commercial circles, having served his time with Messrs. Larrinaga and Co. His education was received at Sefton school. A good all-round athlete, Lance-Corporal Pringle had carried off quite a number of medals for skill in football, cricket, and swimming. The possessor of a voice of excellent timbre, he was a prominent member of the choir at Ullet Road Unitarian Church. He enlisted at the commencement of the war, and had been out in France since November last. 

Leonard now rests at  Grave I A 7, Peronne Road Cemetery.

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

He earned all three medals.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Sarah. 

His father, died aged 68, in 1929 and was buried on the 29th December at Rake Lane Cemetery and his mother, died aged 74, on the 28th April 1937 as was  also buried at Rake Lane Cemetery.

His younger brother, Leslie Harold, enlisted at Seaforth on 27^th August 1917, giving his age as 17 years 9 months, his occupation as steward with the Holt Line, and his next of kin as his father of 29 Brougham Road. On 10^th January 1918 he was posted to the Manchester Regiment as Private 58021, where he had a short spell as Lance Corporal before reverting to the ranks at his own request. He served in France from 03^rd July 1918 before being demobilised in 1919.

We currently have no further information on Leonard Herbert Pringle, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.