Charles Ferdinand D’Hooghe married Louisa Ackroyd in 1876 and produced a very large late Victorian family.
The children were Charles Samuel b 1877, Claude Ackroyd b 1878, Sarah Louise b 1880, Henry Adolphus b 1882, Leonard b 1884, Frederick William b 1886, Herbert b 1888, Albert Stanley b 1890, Norah b 1892, Nellie b 1894, Bernal b 1898 (died 1899) and Bert Harold b 1900.
The 1891 Census finds Leonard as a 7 year-old living with his parents and siblings at 91 Norwood Road, Radford Nottingham.
Leonard’s Service Record has survived but you need to search under Leonard D Hooghe (Hooghe as a surname). Leonard enlisted into the artillery as an 18 year-old in March 1901 and stated his trade at the time as a butcher.
Posted initially to Newport, 15384 Gunner Leonard D’Hooghe joined 116 Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. His records are damaged and difficult to read, but it appears that he agreed to extend his service in 1904 and in due course, he received his Good Conduct chevrons and only had one minor blemish on his disciplinary record – In 1901 at the start of his service he ‘Neglected to obey an order’ and was confined to barracks for seven days.
The thought of life back in civvy street obviously didn’t suit Leonard as he re-engaged back into the artillery in 1913 at the expiration of his initial 12 years. On the outbreak of war, Leonard was mobilised on 6th August 1914 and arrived in France with 141 Battery on 16th August. Therefore, as an original member of the British Expeditionary Force, Leonard was an Old Contemptible.
On 26th October 1914 he was posted to 15 Battery in 36 Brigade which was attached to the 2nd Infantry Division. Leonard’s Great War Service is:
In France 16th August 1914 – 29th October 1916.
In the UK 30th October 1916 – 27th September 1917 – Leonard was evacuated to the UK via Rouen on the SS Gloucester Castle and was admitted to Carrington Hospital, Nottingham suffering with ‘Piles’, the record shows that he was hospitalised with the same condition in 1905.
In France 28th September 1917 – 30th October 1917.
In the UK 31st October 1917 – 19th May 1918 – Leonard was evacuated to the UK via 69 Field Ambulance and was in hospital in the 4th Scottish General Hospital, Glasgow. His wound is described as a Gun Shot Wound (GSW) Right Leg. GSW was a generic term and given he would have been well behind the lines in the artillery, I assume he was hit by shrapnel from German counter battery fire. The doctor’s note states that Leonard was suffering from ‘Comp[ound] Frac[ture] Right Tibia.’ Nevertheless, Leonard recovered and returned to France.
In France 20th May 1918 – 21st September 1918.
In the UK on leave 29th September 1918 – 29th October 1918.
In France 30th October 1918 – 14th April 1919.
In the UK 15th April 1919 – 31st March 1920.
Serving with the 2nd Division artillery, it is very likely that Leonard served at Mons, the fighting at Landrecies, took part in the retreat to the Marne and the 1st Battle of Ypres in 1914, the Battles of Festubert and Loos in 1915, the Somme in 1916, received his leg wound just prior to the 1917 battle of Cambrai and was involved with the final advance to victory battles of late 1918.
We do not know who he acted as an Officer’s Servant for [See below], but this would not necessarily have been a cushy role. Whether as a battery officer or perhaps as a Forward Observation Officer, Leonard would have accompanied his officer and acted as his message runner, a particularly dangerous role when under fire.
On his discharge in march 1920 after 19 years-service, Leonard’s discharge papers state that he was of ‘Very Good Character, Thoroughly Sober and Reliable.’ It is also noted that he served as an Officer’s servant for 2 ½ years. A 1925 Nottingham Trade Directory reveals that Leonard resumed his life as a butcher at 146 Denman Street, Radford, Nottingham but sadly, Leonard did not live a long life, dying in 1932 aged 48.
