Last week my wife and I were taking a holiday in Minehead, where I had a chance to read the West Somerset Free Press.

I noticed in ‘100 years ago’ there was a short piece about Private Leonard Hales, who had been presented with a silver engraved watch by King George V on his visit to France, where Private Hales had served the king as a valet.

I have undertaken some background research on Leonard Hales and would like to share it with your readers.

He was born at Aldershot in January 1894. His father was a corporal musician with the 1st Battalion the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Leonard enlisted into the Regular Army, serving in the 19th Hussars, and he served in France from 18 May 1915 until early 1919.

Whilst in the army he married Agnes Ann Kable of Stogursey on 11 May 1916: She was the daughter of George Kable, a boot maker.

Leonard’s father at this time was a bandsman (probably in the Royal Marine Light Infantry) at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth.

In March 1918 Leonard first acted as valet to the king and was presented with a silver matchbox.

The Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser of 22 May 1918 reported that the king had it engraved at Windsor Castle as follows: Leonard Hales 19th Hussars from HM the King, Tramescourt, 30 March 1918.

Leonard requested that the engraved silver matchbox be sent to his wife at Stogursey.

On his second visit to France, Leonard again acted as valet to the king, for which service he was presented with the silver watch. 

For his war service, Leonard was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Leonard died in the district of Bridgwater in 1962 

One wonders what happened to the silver matchbox and watch and Leonard’s medal!

Dr John Black, Henleaze, Bristol.