WORKING NOTES

Born 7/2/1883, Swansea. Parents - John (Hotel Proprietor Pub fr Audros, Greece) & Margaret Ellen (fr Swansea)

Bapt Cleanthe John Petters? (DOB ties up with 1939, parents correct), Swansea St Mary, 28/3/1883. 22 Richardson St. Father-Ship Broker

1891 - 51A High Street, Swansea. 8yo. W parents & 5 sibs

1901 - Belle Vue Hotel, 26 Nelson St, Swansea. 18yo. Occ- Marine Engineer Apprentice. W parents & 1 sib

1911 - 6 Willows Place, Swansea. 29yo. Occ-Engineers Fitter, Fuel Works. W widowed father & 1 older bro.

1918 - Elec Reg. 8 Nelson Terrace, Swansea. Abs Voter

1921 - 14 Picton Place, 39y4m. Occ-Fitters Helper, George Taff, Block? & Spar Works. W widowed sis & 2 bros

1922 - Married Beatrice W Walters, Swansea Q3

1939 - 22 Herlwyn Ave, Ruislip. DOB 7/2/1883 (ALSO SAYS CLEANTHE JOHN) Occ-Mechanic Fitter LPTB. W wife? Beatreice, John G (1924) & hidden

1962 - Died aged 79, Q2, Epping, Essex

From his family: As one of the few moustachiod men it was relatively easy to pick him up in other photos. There is a resemblance to some family members and a cousin was able to pick him out without me telling her which one. Leonidas John Cleanthe Petters was the (half) brother of my great grandfather Nicholas Petters. They were sons of Captain John Petters (Pettas in Greek) who was a Greek mariner from the island of Andros. He later became a shipping agent and pub landlord in Swansea. Both sons worked for the agency. Leonidas moved to London in the late 1930s and lived in the Acton/Ealing area. I knew nothing of my great grandfathers siblings until I started doing family tree research. My grandmother and her siblings, who may have known Leonidas died many years ago. I am aware that there are some living descendants of Leonidas.

DRAFT

He enlisted on 14/9/1914 as a Driver in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA and was given the service number 1007.

The Brigade was part of the Territorial Force (normally they were weekend soldiers whose role was to protect the UK, but he would have joined up to serve overseas).

He would have trained in Swansea (mostly focusing on fitness and theory, because they had no weapons or unifroms).

They finally got their uniforms in Nov/Dec 1914 and shortly after joined the main Brigade in Cambridge.

After a spell in Cambridge, including an inspection by the King, they moved to Bedford.

According to his medal Index Card, he finally went to France on 22 Nov 1915 with the Brigade to continue their training, including a spell in the front line SE of Albert – opposite Mametz Wood.

Just before Xmas 1915 they pulled out of the line and received orders to rejoin the rest of the Welsh Division (who had suffered horribly at Gallipoli) in Egypt Most of this I can be quite confident of – the rest less so.

I have yet to find a man who went to France on 22 Nov, who did not continue to Egypt. So it is very likely your Grandfather did.

They moved there in Feb 16, travelling from Marseilles to Alexandria and acclimatized at a place called Beni Salama

At this time, they also had the chance to visit Cairo and quite a lot of the men had various ‘tourist’ pictures taken (inc in front of the Sphinx)

In May16, they took over Suez Canal defences nr Ismalia

Later in the year Gen Murray decided attack was the best form of defence and they started a march across the desert that lasted 2 years.

1917, they were involved in the 3 Battles of Gaza and finished the year in Jerusalem

In 1918, they pushed the Turkish army back through Palestine and the Judaen Hills until the armistice was signed.

After a big parade in Alexandria in Dec 1918, they all prepared to go home and most of the men were demobilized in around Mar/Apr 1919

Also listed on A Sub 266 Bde in RJW diary