Biography
When Leslie Pepperrell was born in 1924 in Lambeth, London, England[1][2] his parents Arthur and Maud (Turner) Pepperrell were 47 and 40 years old respectively.
At the time of the 1939 England and Wales Register, enumerated on September 29, Les lived with his father, mother, sister and brother at 122 Crimsworth Road in Lambeth, London.[2]
On April 18, 1941 Les enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment.[3]Service started: 1941
Unit(s): East Surrey Regt.; RAOC
Service ended: 1945
Les married Doris Lilian Dickinson in 1948 in Battersea, London, England [4].
- Denis Edward Pepperrell (b. 1949)
- John Richard Pepperrell (b. 1952)
- Sandra Pepperrell (b. 1963)
Les passed away in 1978 in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, England[5]
Research Notes
Born youngest of 14 in a poor Wandsworth household in 1924, Les's thirst for education and knowledge won him many school prizes, even though he had to go to school in old third hand boots and hand me downs.
He did many jobs as a youngster to earn money - even work as a ‘red flag’ boy walking in front of lorries that carried petrol and oil. He eventually signed up for the army at the age of 16! Les served as a Batman in the East Surrey Regiment during the Second World War. Amongst his duties were to act as a fire warden in the City of London during the blitz.
Upon demob Les trained as telegraphist. He worked for Cable and Wireless and for the Post Office. Les’ s search for knowledge and education led him to join the freemasonry, which he enjoyed immensely. Les taught himself Russian and wrote as yet an unpublished Second World War book based on a true-life English spy Colonel Scotland working inside Hitler's War machine.
Les only wanted the best for his wife - Doris and two sons Dennis and John and daughter Sandra. Struggling to ‘better’ his and their lives, Les did the unthinkable in his day - bought a house and got a mortgage in the then leafy suburb of New Malden.
Les worked like a Trojan and sadly passed away at the very young age of only 52. His son John said, "He was an inspiration to me and it was only when he was gone did I realise just what a good father he had been.
John Pepperrell, (c) 2018.
Sources
- ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV36-ZTWX : 2 October 2014), Leslie Pepperrell, 1924; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Lambeth, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
1939 Register:
"1939 Register," database with images
FindMyPast Image - (FindMyPast Transcription : accessed 14 June 2023)
citing Reference RG101/0341A/008/24, Piece number 0341A, Schedule 72.
Note:Leslie is still shown as closed on Findmypast although died in1978. - ↑
Military:
"Surrey, England, Regimental Rolls and Recruitment Registers, 1908-1947," database with images
Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 4865 #48940 : accessed 14 June 2023)
Name Leslie Pepperrell, Military Enlistment Date 18 Apr 1941, Military Enlistment Place Surrey, England, Regiment East Surrey, Regiment Number 6153135
citing Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, Regimental Rolls from Surrey, England, Reference Number 7791/2/1/22. - ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVDW-GLR2 : 8 October 2014), Leslie Pepperrell and null, 1948; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1948, quarter 3, vol. 5C, p. 9, Battersea, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
- ↑ PEPPERRELL, LESLIE, Age at Death (in years): 53; GRO Reference: 1978 J Quarter in KINGSTON UPON THAMES Volume 13 Page 894; UK GRO Online - Deaths
- Les's formal name
- exact birthdate
- birth location
- exact deathdate
- death location
- family tree
- father's name
- mother's name
- siblings' names
- children's names (3)
- spouse's name and marriage information
- Y-chromosome DNA test connections
- autosomal DNA test connections
If this man served in the British Army, then his Wounded in Action category should be Wounded in Action, United Kingdom, World War II and his POW category should also be United Kingdom and not France. We use country served, not place of the death/injury/imprisonment.
Please correct this. Thanks for all of your work! Natalie, Military and War Leader
I have made the changes as requested. Thanks for pointing out the error.
Phillip