1/6th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Leslie Harold Lodge was born on 3 July 1895 at Five Acres, Coleford, Gloucestershire shortly before before his family moved to Bream. He was the son of Henry Lodge (1858-1928), who was a coal miner, and Hannah Maria Lodge (formerly Jones) (1860-1911).
The family home in Bream was eventually to be Rose Tree Cottage, The Maypole. Before joining the Army he was a bakery worker and then a colliery employee.
Leslie enlisted on 12 January 1915 for service with 13th (Forest of Dean Pioneers) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, the unit with which he first landed in France. He was later transferred to 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and finally to 1/6th Battalion.
He was mortally wounded at Poelcapelle on 9 October 1917 and was, in due course, invalided back to England and onward to Bradford War Hospital where he died on 26 January 1918, aged 22 years.
His remains were returned for burial in Bream (St James) churchyard on 31 January 1918.
His grave was marked with a traditional, large, Forest stone, headstone but when this became dilapidated through age and exposure to the elements a CWGC headstone was added to the grave plot.
Researched by Eric Nicholls 4 October 2019