John Leslie Wain (1898–1946)

Private

Army Service Corps MT 28082  
Suffolk Regiment 38531 1st Reserve Garrison Battery
Suffolk Regiment 38531 11th; 2nd ; 5th Battalions
Royal Army Service Corps MT M/285945  

Biography [Simon Johnson]
John Leslie Wain (usually known as Leslie) was born at Fritchley, 11 September 1898. Whilst working as a wood turner, he enlisted in the army at Leicester in September 1916 and was posted to the ASC, Military Transport. He lived at Leicester at the time, though his family were still in Fritchley. In August 1917 he was compulsorily transferred to the 1st Reserve Garrison Battery of the Suffolk Regiment. He embarked for France in April 1918 and was posted to the 11th, then the 2nd Suffolks. He was twice wounded in action, in August 1918 (gunshot wound to face) and September 1918 (gunshot wound to back), whereupon he was transferred to England. In April 1919 he embarked for Egypt with the 5th Suffolks. In July he was attached to the RASC in Kantara and was compulsorily transferred to the RASC (MT), with effect from September. He was compulsorily transferred back to the RASC MT in September 1919. He was transferred to Class Z in February 1920 and was discharged in March. In August 1920, he enlisted in the RAF (342431). He served until 1925, reaching the rank of corporal. In 1939, he was unmarried and living at Battersea, London, where he worked as a postman. At the time of his death, in June 1946, he lived at Ashford Common, London. His widowed sister Hilda Burdett (who married Tom Burdett in 1918) was granted administration of his estate.w

Medal Index Card
M/285945, Pte WAIN Leslie , (11th Suffolk Regt 38531Pte) awarded Victory and British War medals.

Army Record
Leslie Wain, born Fritchley, enlisted 4 Sept 1916 into Army Service Corps MT (28082) at Leicester, aged 18, a wood turner, Height 5ft 2in, weight 97lbs. Cof E. Address on enlistment 20 Moorgate Street, Leicester.
Next of kin John Wain, father.
4/9/16 Attested Pte
4/9/16 To ASC M.T. Reg
29/1/17 Posted
30/1/17 Joined Grove P ark
19/3/17 Learners Test
20/3/17 Passed learner test 4th rate
29/8/17 Compulsory transfer Reserve Garrison Battery, Suffolk Regt. Gravesend
21/10/17 Posted 3rd Bn
3/4/18 Embarked Southampton
4/4/18 Disembarked
5/4/18 Poted to 11th Bn Suffolk Regt (Cambs) Posted to 2nd Bn Suffolk Regt
8/4/18 Joined Bn
6/8/18 Wounded in action (gunshot wound)
7/8/18 Admitted to 54 CCS
8/8/18 Hospital Calais
30/8/18 Joined bn in the field
27/9/18 Wounded in action gunshot wound to the back; admitted to 34 CCS
30/9/18 To England on HS Ville de Leige
3/11/18 Posted to Command Depot at Shoreham
6/12/18 Posted 3rd Bn
29/4/19 Posted 5th Suffolks embarked Dover for Egypt
19/9/19 Compulsory transfer to RASC at Kantara
23/2/20 Transferred to class Z on demob

Home 26/1/17 to 2/4/18
France 3/4/18 to 30/9/18
Home 1/10/18 to 28/4/19
Egypt 29/4/19 to 14/1/20
En route to Home 15/1/20 to 30/1/20
Home 31/1/20 to 27/2/20
Total service 3yrs 209days


Compulsory transfer from ASC (Mechanical Transport) to 1st Reserve Garrison Battery Suffolk Regiment on 19/8/17
4/11/18 with 2nd Suffolks, aged 20, bullet wound to back. transferred from France to Pavilion Hospital, Brighton
Granted furlough from 2 Suffolks from 22/10/18 until 29/10/18 staying at Fritchley
Awarded Btitish War and Victory medals
Character reference dated 3/1/20:
M/285945 Pte Wain; employed as a driver; sobriety –unimpeachable; reliable – absolutely; intelligent – very intelligent and capable; aptitute for civilian employment – any position of trust especially as a mechanic or chauffeur; Noted facts – Pte Wain is an exceedingly willing, reliable and well educated soldier he has ben twice wounded and his war services have been of the highest value.

31/1/20 Certificate of Identity: Address for pay c/o Mrs Cowlishaw 60 Burfield Street, Leicester [his mother was née Cowlishaw]

After demob Leslie joined the Royal Air Force

RAF Record
342431; Leslie Wain; born 11 September 1898 at Crich; C of E; engaged 3/8/20 aged 21years 328 days
Previous engagement in the Forces M/285945 RASC
Occupation, a wood turner
Next of kin: Mrs JS Wain, 56 Sheffield Road, Kilmarnock , mother
Brown hair and eyes, fresh complexion
scars: GSW penetrating in the loin (not a disabilty)
3/8/20 Enlisted AC2
13/11/20 Remustd O/R A'Hd Grp V
1/10/21 Reclass AC1
1/10/22 Reclass LAC
1/10/24 Promoted Corporal

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Fritchley

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John Wain Head 33 Wood turner Crich
Jane Wain wife 33   Crich
Elsie Wain daughter 9   Crich
Hilda Wain daughter 5   Crich
Leslie Wain son 2   Crich
Annie Wain daughter 1   Heage

RG13 piece 3231 folio 13 page 17

1911: Fritchley

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John Thomas Wain Head 44 Wood turner, Glossop Ltd Crich
Jane Wain wife 44   Crich
Florance Elsie Wain daughter 19 Dress maker Crich
Hilda Wain daughter 15 Hosiery, J Smedley Ltd Crich
John Leslie Wain son 12 School Crich
Harriett Annie Wain daughter 11 School Crich
James Ronald Wain son 1   Crich

RG14_20983_0191_03

1939 Register: Battersea , 50 Falcon Road
John L. Wain b. 11 Sept 1898 Postman
Elizabeth Hayes b. June 1892
[TNA_R39_0024_0024H_011]