Herbert Leggatt was born on 28 November 1891 in Paddington, London, a son of Herbert Leggatt (1864-1923) and Harriett Leggatt née Gray (1863-1950). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1891 in the Paddington registration district.
In the 1901 census he was shown as aged 9 years, living in two rooms at 15 Stanley Street, Paddington, with his mother and his sister Caroline Alice Leggatt (1889-1960). His father was shown as a butler at 21 Hyde Park Square, Paddington, the home of Samuel & Zillah Beddington.
He was described as a 19-year-old jam merchant's clerk in the 1911 census, living in a three roomed property at 91 Hartland Road, West Kilburn, NW London, with his mother and three siblings: Caroline; Stanley Leggatt (1903-1987) and Violet Emily Leggatt (b.1906). His elder sister, Caroline, occupation was shown as millenary. His father was still the butler to Samuel Beddington in the 22 roomed house at 21 Hyde Park Square, Paddington.
On 23 September 1914 he enlisted as a Private in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, service number Ch./297(S). He was an Acting Corporal in the 1st Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division when he was killed in action, aged 25 years, on 28 April 1917. As he has no known grave he is commemorated in Bay 1, Course E, Stone 1, on the Arras Memorial to the Missing in the Faubourg d'Amiens British Cemetery, Bd du Général de Gaulle, 62000 Arras, France.
He is shown as LEGGATT.H. Pte. R.M.Lt.INF. on the Quebec Chapel war memorial in Marylebone, London. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
