Current Information:

Born-Clapham

Enlisted-London

Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium

The exact circumstances of the death of Leonard Dignum who died from wound on 19th April, 1915, are not known but artillery men faced many dangers and during the course of the war nearly 50,000 of them were killed. Their gun batteries were targeted by the enemy’s guns which accounted for many of their casualties. Others were sent forward to act as ‘spotters’ which meant going forward to the front line and signalling back to the guns necessary changes in target and other vital information. Keeping the batteries supplied with ammunition was a dangerous task as the enemy guns would target the known supply routes, especially at night. Brigade Diaries rarely shine any light on casualties sustained, unless of course they were officers and even then information is sparse. 

30 Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery was a unit of Britain’s pre-war regular army and went to France in August 1914 as part of 3rd Division. In April, 1915, 3rd Division were in the line around Ypres.