Thank you to Bernice Forsyth and Mary Day from Capel Local History Group for allowing Dorking Museum to publish their research, and thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the additional research.
Albert Leadbetter was born in the 1st quarter of 1897 in Newdigate, Surrey to labourer and brickmaker Thomas and Mary Leadbetter (nee Francis).
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at Kittles Cottages, Capel, Surrey. Thomas was working as a brickmaker and Mary was looking after their children: Margaret, Thomas, Martha, Emily, Albert, William, Ruth and John.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived in Beare Green, Dorking. Thomas was working as an agricultural labourer and Mary was at home. The household further comprised of their children: general servant Margaret, mother’s help Ellen, carter boy Albert and schoolchildren William, Ruth, James, Harriett, James and Annie.
Albert Leadbetter enlisted in Dorking into the Middlesex Regiment. He was a Private with regimental number 3999. At the time of his enlistment he lived in Dorking.
At the time of his death Albert was part of the 15th Labour Company, the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was a Private and his new regimental number was: G/28032.
Albert Leadbetter died on 30th May 1917 at Imtarfa (Mtarfa) Military Hospital in Malta.
He is buried at the Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta. His grave reference number is: C.XIV.2.
Albert Leadbetter received the British War and Victory medals.
Albert’s father Henry Leadbetter received £6, 17s and 4d on 16th October 1917 and a further £6 and 10s on 24th October 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Leadbetter Family History
Albert’s father Thomas was born about 1867 in Warnham, Sussex to agricultural labourer Thomas, born about 1846 in Rusper, Sussex and Harriet born about 1847 in Horsham, Sussex. Albert’s mother Mary Francis was born in the 2nd quarter of 1870 in Capel to Nehemiah, born about 1829 in Newdigate, Surrey and Jane, born about 1828 in Capel. Thomas and Mary married on 7th September 1889 at St Peter’s church, Newdigate. At the time of the marriage Thomas was working as a labourer and lived in Newdigate. Mary was working as a servant and lived in Holmwood, Surrey.
Albert had eleven siblings: Margaret Ethel born about 1890; Ellen born about 1892; Thomas born about 1893; John born about 1901; Harriett born about 1902; James born about 1904 and Annie born about 1905, all in Capel, Surrey. Martha born about 1894; Emily born about 1896; William born about 1898; Ruth born about 1900, all in Newdigate, Surrey. The 1907 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser reads that two of Albert’s siblings were invalids.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 3 Beare Green Cottages, Capel. Thomas was working as an agricultural labourer and Mary was looking after their daughter Margaret. The household further comprised of a lodger.
Albert’s brother, labourer, Thomas Leadbetter of Brickyards Cottages, Capel (21), shot himself in the side in the region of the heart on the 18th of March 1914, near Beare Green. The inquest was held and the jury returned a verdict of ‘suicide during temporary insanity’. (The 1914 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser)
| Born | Newdigate, Surrey | |
| Lived | Capel, Surrey | |
| Son of | Thomas and Mary Leadbetter | |
| Enlisted |
Dorking, Surrey | |
| Regiment | 15th Labour Company, Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | G/20832 | |
| Former Regiment | Middlesex Regiment | |
| Number | 3999 | |
| Date of Death | 30th May 1917 | |
| Place of Death | Malta | |
| Age | 20 | |
| Cemetery | The Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta |
