Lieut.-Colonel John Frederick LEMAN, D.S.O. (148942)
Commanded the Depot Worcestershire Regiment from 1926 to 1929.
Commanded the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from August 1931 to 1935.
Lieut.-Colonel Leman, D.S.O., joined the 1st Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment, at Templemore, Ireland on 29th August 1906. He was appointed Assistant Adjutant shortly after being promoted Lieutenant in 1909, which appointment he held until the Battalion went abroad in 1912. He then proceeded with the 1st Battalion to Egypt in 1912 and during this period was a member of the best shooting Company not only of the Battalion but of all Egypt. The next important step in Colonel Leman’s career was going to France with the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. He was wounded on 15th November 1914, afterwards serving with the 5th Battalion at Fort Tregantle, until September 1915, when he was again posted to France to the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment, and while serving with this Battalion was promoted Captain in 1915. Colonel Leman remained with the 2nd Battalion until October 1916, and during 1917 he served as second-in-command with the temporary rank of Major. During 1917 he also served for short periods of varying lengths with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles, the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers and the 11th Cheshire Regiment. In November, 1917, he was selected to the command of The 13th Battalion of The Royal Welch Fusiliers, of which he held command until the disbandment of this Battalion, at the conclusion of the war, in May 1919. All Colonel Leman’s war service was therefore in France and Belgium. As a result of his War Service he received the Distinguished Service Order in 1918 and was mentioned in dispatches. |
Lieut.-Colonel J. F. Leman, DSO |
In August, 1919, he was again posted to the Worcestershire Regiment, this time to the 4th Battalion with which he served on the Rhine and in Ireland till the disbandment of the Battalion in 1922, when he was posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment with which he served in Ireland, at Dover, and on the Rhine.
He was promoted Major in November, 1923.
The next important milestone in Colonel Leman’s service was his selection to command the Depot of the Regiment at Norton Barracks. He took over command from Colonel B. C. S. Clarke, D.S.O., in November 1926, and on completing his tour at Worcester, rejoined the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment at Plymouth as second-in-command, and went abroad with this Battalion in 1930 to Malta.
Finally, in 1931, he achieved one of his greatest ambitions—probably the greatest ambition of every Regimental Officer—when on 25th August 1931, he succeeded Colonel W. F. O. Faviell, D.S.O., to the command of The 1st Battalion of the Regiment.
For the next four years Colonel Leman commanded the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, for the remainder of their tour at Plymouth, and the start of their new station at Aldershot, until his retirement on the 25th August 1935.
He completed, except for four days, 29 years’ service with the Regiment as with the exception of a few short periods during the Great War when he served with other units, all his service was with one Battalion or other of The Worcestershire Regiment.
Colonel Leman at all times took a very keen interest in all forms of Regimental games and sports and particularly in Cricket and Rifle Shooting. He played Cricket for the 1st Battalion until his retirement and as a Subaltern, represented this Battalion at Cricket, Hockey and Football.
The Standard of Rifle Shooting was more than maintained during the four years of Colonel Leman’s command, for he took a very keen interest in keeping up the already high standard of shooting. Perhaps the most notable achievement of the Battalion in this respect was the winning of the Duke of Connaught Cup for Revolver Shooting, in 1932.
On the outbreak of Second World War in 1939 Lieut.-Colonel Leman returned to the active list for a short period, when he commanded the Depot and Training Centre at Norton.
Colonel Leman died at his home, Broadstone, Dorset on the 30th January 1951, age 64. His funeral took place on the 3rd February 1951 and the Regiment was represented by Major E. M. Dodd, Colonel W. Prescott, Colonel and Mrs Tuckey And Captain T. J. Bowen.