Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Leslie James Ewens -

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, May 7, 1915 Page 1

News has been received of the death in India of Bugler Leslie Ewens, son of Mrs. Ewens, of The Longdown, Ventnor. Ewens went out last year with the Ventnor members of the Hants Howitzer Battery. He was very well known in the town, and his death at such an early age is greatly deplored. Mrs. Ewens has received the sincere condolence of many friends, especially from those who visit the Women's Welcome Rooms.

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DEATHS
EWENS. - On April 29th, at Lucknow, India, Leslie Ewens, trumpeter in the 4th Hants Howitzer Battery (Wessex Brigade), aged 20 years.

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DEATH OF TRUMPETER EWENS. - Much sympathy has been expressed with Mrs. Ewens, of No 9, South Street, in the death of her son Leslie, who passed away at Lucknow, India, on April 29th. Ewens went out with the other Ventnor members of the Battery in October and had since been promoted to Bombardier. His mother heard from him a fortnight ago, when he mentioned he had been ill from colic after having had a touch of fever. On Sunday morning Mrs. Ewens had official intimation of his death from the War Office, and the news naturally came to her as a terrible blow. Ewens had worked for Mr. Digweed and Mr. Thorpe, and was a much liked and respected lad. Mrs. Ewens has received many messages of sympathy in her sorrow, which she desires to take this means of thankfully acknowledging.

Friday, May 28, 1915 Page 3

The Death of Trumpeter Ewens
STRIKING EXPRESSIONS OF REGRET AND SYMPATHY.
Mrs. Ewens, of Ventnor, has received several letters from officers and men of the 4th Hants Howitzer Battery, 2nd Wessex Brigade, giving full details of the untimely death of her son, Trumpeter Leslie Ewens, who went out from Ventnor to India with the Battery last year. There is a consensus of general regret at the early death of such a promising young soldier. Captain A.J. Hartnall, who is now in charge of the Battery, writes as follows - "It is with the very greatest regret that I have to confirm the sad news you have no doubt already received from the War Office of the death of your son. It occurred this morning (April 29th) after a brief illness, which extended only over two or three days, from gastric poisoning. From inquiries which I have made it seems clear that he must have eaten something deleterious in some ices, which set up septic poisoning. Such a thing would probably not occur in England, but in a climate like this the greatest care has to be taken with food. All the medical staff could do could not save his life. He was interred this evening with full military honours, and it will, I hope, soften the blow to you to know that the large attendance at the funeral and the large numbers of wreaths, showed the esteem in which he was held by all of us. I can testify that he was a good soldier and one of whom I had every reason to feel proud, and I assure you that I felt his untimely death very much indeed. We have, all of us, I suppose, to look forward to bereavements, and I can only express my hope that your grief may be softened by the knowledge of the affection in which he was held by his comrades, and that you may be given strength to bear the blow which has fallen upon you. You will be glad to know that he was doing his duty for his country when he was called away." Lieut. W. Tozer, (*) in the course of a sympathetic letter, says: - "I am sure you must have been heart-broken to receive the sad news of the death of your dear boy Leslie. I have just returned from the solemn and impressive funeral. All his comrades were there to pay the last respect to our popular trumpeter, and we shall all miss him tremendously. How many thousands of mothers are mourning and will mourn the loss of their dear sons, as being the price we have to pay through the result of the terrible war that is raging in Europe. Everything that could be done was done by the medical profession for your dear son, but alas, to no avail." Lieut. Percy Millett wrote: - "It was my pleasure to know him very well and I was greatly distressed to see him at his work, looking anything but well, and though I ordered him to bed at once, I little thought the end was so near … … he was a great favourite with the Battery, and will be very much missed, especially as he did all the bugle calls, and I have never had occasion to complain to him of anything." Corp. E. Pope sends the following letter: "As No. 1 of the Headquarters Staff, to which your late son belonged, I write on their behalf to offer you our deepest sympathy in your great bereavement. Words fail to express our feelings, as he was the life of the bungalow, always cheerful and looking on the bright side of life. He will be sadly missed, not only by the Headquarters' Staff and his brother N.C.O.'s, but by the whole of the battery. He was also a fine soldier, always attentive to duty and a fine trumpeter. His place will be hard to fill. He stuck to duty until he was forced to give in. He was buried here at Lucknow with full military honours, all the officers, N.C.O.'s and men attending. The band of the 5th 'Queens' West Surrey Regiment played the dead March in Saul. There were some beautiful wreaths from the Battery. Sergt. Major Hawkins wishes me to express to you his great sorrow and his sympathy at your loss." Bombardier W.E. Wright also wrote an appreciative letter of Trumpeter Ewens' work in the Battery, and of his personal worth.

Friday, June 11, 1915 Page 1

Gunner F.A. Richards, of the 4th Hants Howitzer Battery, has been promoted Trumpeter in place of the late Trumpeter Leslie Ewens. He was formerly one of the 1st cornet players in the Ventnor Artillery and Town Band.