Leslie Langham was born on 9 October 1912, the son of Henry Langham (b.1886) and Annie Langham née Hodkin (b.1894). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1912 in the Mansfield registration district, Nottinghamshire. His father was an agricultural labourer and his parents were both listed on the 1926 electoral register at Carr House, Stainton, Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire.
He married Elsie Lilian Weatherstone (1913-1989) in the 3rd quarter of 1939 in the Brentford registration district, Middlesex (now Greater London). In the 1939 England and Wales register he is shown as a 'Fireman L.F.B' at Fire Brigade Headquarters, Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London, whilst his wife was registered as a millineress at 24 Shirley Road, Bedford Park, Chiswick, Middlesex (now Greater London), together with her parents and her brother. They had one daughter, Janice Ann Langham (1941-1991), who was born on 4 September 1941 and whose birth was registered in the Willesden registration district, Middlesex (now Greater London).
On 11 August 1944 he was injured in a fire at Brompton Road, Chelsea and died, aged 31 years, at St Stephen's Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10, later the same day. On 16 August 1944 his body was buried in Grave MM47 in Acton Cemetery, 308 Park Royal Road, London, W3 6XA.
He is shown as Leading Fireman Leslie Langham on the Chelsea Firefighters memorial plaque at Chelsea Fire Station, 264 King's Road, London, SW3 and as LANGHAM, Leslie, Leading Fireman London Fire Brigade, on the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945 that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey, and as Leslie Langham on the National Firefighters Memorial at Sermon Lane, London, EC4. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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