L. C. NATHAN, 14 September 1916
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Leopold Charles Nathan
Born:
1894
Died:
16 Elul 5676 (14 September 1916)
Basic Information
Unique reference:
NAT4454
Gender:
Male
Birth
Date of birth:
1894
Place of birth:
Bradford, Yorkshire
Death
Date of death:
16 Elul 5676 (14 September 1916)
Died in combat?:
Yes
Place of death:
France
Cause of death:
Killed in Action
Burial place:
Unknown, commemorated on Thiepval Memorial
Leopold in uniform, from the O.B.A. Roll of Honour
Places
Addresses
Family home:
4 Oak Avenue Bradford, Yorkshire (1911)
Schools
Name:
Bradford Grammar School
Name:
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Family
Siblings
Gertrude (female)
Paul (male)
Julius (male)
Marion Ellen (female)
Parents
Father: Bernhard Nathan (male)
Mother: Helene Nathan (female)
Military Record
Military service:
Army
Date discharged/death:
14 September 1916
Rank at discharge/death:
Second Lieutenant
Assignments
Regiment:
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment
Battalion/unit:
8th (Service) Battalion
Posting:
It is likely that Leopold joined the O.T.C. at Cambridge, and during the Michaelmas Term 1914 he gave up his studies at Cambridge to obtain a
commission. On 11th January 1915 he was gazetted as Second Lieutenant and was posted to the 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment at Halifax.
In August, Nathan was sent to France and subsequently was transferred to the 8th Battalion, joining them at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, on 6th October. He served there until the evacuation in December, and he was then in Egypt, until the 11th Northern Division were transferred to France, arriving at
Marseilles on 1st July 1916.
After a fortnight holding trenches near Arras, the 8th Battalion moved to the Somme where they prepared for an attack on 14th September. At 6.30 p.m. two companies each from 8th Duke of Wellington’s and
9th West Yorkshire Regiments assaulted a German strongpoint called the ‘Wonder Work’ and a stretch of Hohenzollern Trench, south of Thiepval. The objectives were seized within ten minutes and the British dug in forty yards beyond. Communication trenches were immediately constructed back to the previous front line. The next day, German counterattacks were beaten off suffering heavy losses. Although this was a complete, if limited, success it was at a price—the 8th Battalion lost eight officers and 250 other ranks killed and wounded. Among the
former was Leopold Nathan. His body remained on the battlefield, over which there was further heavy fighting to come, so he has no known grave, and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.
Researched and written by Nick Hooper, September 2016, for Bradford Grammar School's 'Old Bradfordians'.
commission. On 11th January 1915 he was gazetted as Second Lieutenant and was posted to the 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment at Halifax.
In August, Nathan was sent to France and subsequently was transferred to the 8th Battalion, joining them at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, on 6th October. He served there until the evacuation in December, and he was then in Egypt, until the 11th Northern Division were transferred to France, arriving at
Marseilles on 1st July 1916.
After a fortnight holding trenches near Arras, the 8th Battalion moved to the Somme where they prepared for an attack on 14th September. At 6.30 p.m. two companies each from 8th Duke of Wellington’s and
9th West Yorkshire Regiments assaulted a German strongpoint called the ‘Wonder Work’ and a stretch of Hohenzollern Trench, south of Thiepval. The objectives were seized within ten minutes and the British dug in forty yards beyond. Communication trenches were immediately constructed back to the previous front line. The next day, German counterattacks were beaten off suffering heavy losses. Although this was a complete, if limited, success it was at a price—the 8th Battalion lost eight officers and 250 other ranks killed and wounded. Among the
former was Leopold Nathan. His body remained on the battlefield, over which there was further heavy fighting to come, so he has no known grave, and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.
Researched and written by Nick Hooper, September 2016, for Bradford Grammar School's 'Old Bradfordians'.
Medal index card
Roll of Honour
Commonwealth Graves Commission
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Date of Death:
14 September 1916
Age:
22 years old
Regiment / service:
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 8th Bn.
Cemetery:
Thiepval Memorial, France
Grave reference:
Pier and Face 6 A and 6 B.
Additional information:
Personal inscription:
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