The ford at Wycombe Marsh (picture from SWOP website)
High Wycombe Cemetery seen from Downley
James Robert Leach 1880 - 1922
My name is James Robert Leach and I was born in 1880 in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. My parents were David & Sarah nee Sparks. The 1881 Census shows my family living at Friday Street, Rotherfield Greys, Henley when I am just 8mths old. My brother George aged 2yrs is also listed. My father was a labourer and died in 1885 leaving my mother Sarah a young widow with young children. She re-married and in 1891 we were living at Putnam Farm, Tylers Green, Buckinghamshire. On that census I am 10yrs old and listed as Robert which is how I preferred to be known.
I married Rose Emma Meeks on 3rd August 1907 at High Wycombe Parish Church and in 1911 we were living at Abbey Barn Road, Marsh, High Wycombe with our son James Robert junior aged 2yrs. We had two further children, Reginald Gilbert born in 1911 and Beryl Edith Louisa born in 1914. I was working as a bricklayer’s labourer at that time.
When I was 18yrs old I joined the Militia, Royal Berkshire Regiment, No 1 Company, service number 5468. Because of the Great War I re-joined and in 1916 when I was 36yrs old I acquired a different service number, that of 30436, so my service records are a bit muddled. I expect I also confused things as I was calling myself Robert by this time!
Anyway I did my bit for the war effort and fortunately survived long enough to see peace but sadly, as a result of my war service, I died when I was only 42yrs old back at home in Wycombe Marsh. I am buried in an unmarked grave in High Wycombe Cemetery. As I had been discharged from the Army I was not given a CWGC headstone but my name, Robert Leach, was added to the Wycombe Marsh War Memorial. Our address at the time of my death was Beech Road, Wycombe Marsh.
Researched by Ruth Bowler, Flackwell Local Area History Group
