Leonard Cole (1898 - 1980)

Born 25 Feb 1898 in Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand [uncertain]

Ancestors

Son of John James Cole and Harriet Emma (Turner) Cole

Husband of Isabella (Brown) Cole — married 1920 (to about 1949) in New Zealand

Husband of Violet Pearl (Hamilton) Cole — married 1955 in Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 28 Aug 1980 at age 82 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Matt McNabb [send private message] and Anne Kenyon [send private message]

Biography

Leonard Cole has English ancestors.

Leonard was born 25 Feb 1898. His parents were John James Cole (born Devonshire, England) and Harriet Emma (born London, England).^[1][2]

In 1913 he enlisted for the First World War. He was a blacksmith of Moulson St, Invercargill. He was 5'8", 150lb, fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair, Anglican. He had a archer-and-bow tattoo on his forearm. ^[2][3]

He embarked on the Tofua from Wellington, 1 Aug 1918, arriving in London 4 Oct 1019. He returned home on the Hororata in 1919.^[4] He was a rifilman in the NZ Rifle Bridages and served for 1 year and 54 days.^[5]

In 1920 he married Isabella Brown.^[6]

They separated in about 1949.^[7]

In 1955 he married Violet Pearl Gibbs (nee Hamilton).^[8]

He passed away 28 Aug 1980 at Christchurch. His WW1 service number was 80605.^[9]

He was buried on 3 Sep 1980 at Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill; in the same plot as Violet.^[10]

Research Notes

The person from the BDM and war records is identified with the husband of Isabella Brown based on firsthand family knowledge; also the Invercargill electoral roll lists Leonard (striker) and Isabella; and "striker" is a blacksmith sub-profession.

Sources

• WW1 record.^[11]

1. ↑ NZ BDM Births 1898/6217
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} WW1 record, Files 13,14 - Attestation for General Service
3. ↑ Image NZ Electoral Roll - 1919 Southland Invercargill, via ancestry.com
4. ↑ WW1 record, File 9, "Casualty Form-Active Service"
5. ↑ WW1 record, File 8, "NZEF Certificate of Discharge"
6. ↑ NZ BDM Marriages 1920/9224
7. ↑ Archives New Zealand: R10627674 Cole, Leonard v Cole, Isabella (R10627674) , 1949-55, via archway
8. ↑ Wilson Collection, accessed 31 Jan 2022. Also, they appear together in the electoral roll in 1957, at the same address in Invercargill that Violet Pearl Gibbs lived; and are buried together.
9. ↑ WW1 record, File 5, "Notification of Death"
10. ↑ LEONARD, COLE at Invercargill CC Cemeteries Search, accessed 21 Sep 2020
11. ↑ Archives New Zealand: R21895855 COLE, Leonard - WW1 80605 - Army .

• Maternal and paternal relationships are confirmed by a MyHeritageDNA test match between Leonard's grand-daughter Cheryl and Cheryl's 2nd cousin once removed, N.C., who is the granddaughter of Keith Edward Humphrey. Their most-recent common ancestors are Leonard's parents, John James Cole and Harriet Emma Turner. MyHeritage result: sharing 226.0 cM across 12 segments, largest: 40.6cM.