In 1914 the population of East Leake was about 800, of which 124 young men between the ages of 16 and 40 volunteered or were conscripted into the Forces to fight in what was later named the Great War.
The Roll of Honour which stands in front of the Methodist Church lists their names. Approximately 18% of those did not survive, and to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice in November 1918, The East Leake & District Local History Society published an illustrated book about the lives of the 23 men from the village who did not survive.
After the First World War a committee was appointed to arrange a war memorial opposite the church to commemorate those who tragically lost their lives. George Tutin, a Nottingham solicitor who lived in East Leake Hall on Station Road, was an influential member of the committee. His son Guy had been a Lieutenant in the 3rd Btn, Sherwood Foresters. He sustained a gunshot wound whilst serving in France and was returned to England. When considered fit for duty he rejoined the battalion but suffered poor health. At the end of the war he was treated in a military hospital where he died in January 1919 aged 24. It was considered gas poisoning may have been a factor. He is buried in St, Mary’s churchyard in a sarcophagus near the church door which bears the crest of the Sherwood Foresters. His father, George Tutin, contributed 25% of the total cost of the East Leake war memorial, and his uncle, a renowned Nottingham born sculptor with a studio in Chelsea, designed it free of charge.
The Rushcliffe Golf Club lost nine members from the local area during the Great War, and their names are recorded on a brass memorial plaque in the clubhouse. The most local was the son of Sir Arthur and Lady Blake of West Leake Manor, Lt. Geoffrey Blake of the 203rd Field Company, Royal Engineers who died aged 21. A memorial plaque for young Lt. Blake also exists in West Leake church.
The Carillion in Queens Park was built in memory of fallen Loughborough men. To raise money for this impressive memorial a unique bedspread was made and embroidered with over 500 signatures, and is known as The Alexandra Bedspread because the most important signature is that of Queen Alexander. It also bears the signature of Winston Churchill. It cost one shilling to have your name embroidered on the textile by girls from local schools. In 1923 a bazzar was held in Queens Park where the bedspread was raffled to raise more money. This important part of Loughborough’s history is now safely held by Charnwood Borough Council.
This year the annual Remembrance Day service will be held on Sunday 12th of November outside St. Mary’s Church at 11.00am. Please note that the road will be closed from 10.40am until 11.40am.
Written by East Leake & District History Society
The next Local History Society talk in St. Mary’s Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday 15th November will be about the Knitting Industry in the East Midlands.