Private Joseph Leonard Towell
2782 Notts (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry
275972 Corps of Hussars
‘Leonard’ was born in 1897 at Westwood, Notts, son of John Towell a coal miner hewer from Oakham, Rutlandshire and Mary Hannah (nee Cramp) of Westwood. In 1901 the family was living at Old Westwood (Palmerston Street) but by 1911 had moved to Laverick Road, Jacksdale. Leonard had elder sisters Emma and Cordelia and a younger brother named Ernest Arthur. In 1911, when aged only 13, Leonard was employed as a coal ganger.
Leonard’s enlistment date is not known but his Medal Rolls Index Card indicates that he was serving in Egypt from 7th December 1915 and was consequently awarded the 1914-15 Star, and also the British War and Victory medals. Several of the servicemen named on the Jacksdale War Memorial served with the 1/1st Hussars and a local Westwood man, Sergeant John Worthington was a recruiting Sergeant for the Hussars. Leonard served on until 1919 as his index card states he disembarked on 10th April 1919.
In 1921 Leonard married Mary Estella Wilson and they had a son named Joseph Peter who was baptised at Westwood, St. Mary’s and also a daughter named Dorothy, a few years later.