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Leonard Cobbett was born in Ossett on 22nd June 1910 and baptised at South Ossett Christ Church on 24th September 1910. Leonard was the second of four children born to Walter and Emily Cobbett (nee Gregson) who married locally in 1908. At the time of Leonard’s birth the couple and their elder son, Harry, born April 1908, were living on Horbury Road, most probably at 1, Clarendon Cottages where the family were “boarding” with Emily’s mother and spinster sister in 1911. An only daughter, Esme Osgood Cobbett, was born on 5th August 1911 and a third son, Donald, was born on 6th May 1916.
Clarendon Cottages adjacent to South Ossett Christ Church, Horbury Road (Courtesy Joan Smith)
The family remained in Ossett in 1921, by which time the household was complete with four children aged between five and thirteen years. In summer 1937 Leonard, aged 27, married Ossett born Vera Robinson and by November 1938 he was working for the Post Office as a postman based at the Ossett sub office. All seemed well until 3rd September 1939 when Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany.
Later that month the 1939 Register recorded Leonard’s parents, Walter and Emily and their youngest son, Donald, living with them at Glen View Cottages, 26 Peel Street, Horbury. Leonard’s wife, Vera, is registered at the same address but there is no evidence of Leonard’s whereabouts suggesting that he had already enlisted. The eldest son, Harry, had married in 1932 and was living with his wife Esther (nee Freer) in Ossett where they made their home at Briggs’ Yard off Blue Butts. Walter and Emily’s only daughter, Esme, married Sydney Carter in 1932 and in 1939 the couple lived at Glen View Cottages, 24 Peel Street, Horbury; next door to Esme’s parents. They could be described as a close family.
Two sources, both reputable, differ slightly in their information and/or interpretation regarding Leonard’s relatively short time between his enlistment and his tragic death in July 1941. The Military Police Corps record it that Leonard enlisted in the Lancers, a Cavalry of the Line before he was transferred to the Military Police Corps. The UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945 suggests that on enlistment Leonard Cobbett joined the Royal Armoured Corps, Provost Company aka the Corps of Military Police; also known as the Red Caps.
The difference is likely to be semantics since in 1940-41 at least one regiment of the Lancers was assigned to the Royal Armoured Corps which subsequently fought in the Invasion of Normandy in 1944; well after Leonard’s death in 1941. There is full agreement though that Leonard Cobbett had been promoted to Lance Corporal during his service. Neither is there any doubt about the date and circumstances of his death in Surrey in tragic circumstances on 30th July 1941.
The members of the Military Police Corps were known by various nicknames, the most popular being ‘The Redcaps’ on account of the crimson top worn on the khaki service cap. Their duties were various, including enforcing military discipline and law within the British Army, investigating crimes committed by military personnel and against military establishments (such as theft and looting), guarding prisoners-of-war, traffic control, route marking and providing security at vulnerable points.
Throughout the Second World War, men of the Corps of Military Police served wherever the British Army served. They were on the front line, landing soon after the initial wave at Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Normandy for example. In addition, they had to deal with issues of behaviour of British troops. The granting of the prefix ‘Royal’ with effect from the 28 November 1946 recognised the service of the Corps of Military Police in the Second World War, so the title became the Corps of Royal Military Police.
Leonard Cobbett had served in the forces for almost two years when on 30th July 1941 he sustained fatal injuries when involved in a motor cycle accident involving an army vehicle at Reigate, Surrey. The Inquest verdict found death by misadventure.
Leonard’s Death Certificate, issued at Reigate in the County of Surrey, records that he died on 30th July 1941 at Woodhatch Road Reigate U.D. and that he was 31 years of age. His rank or profession was stated as Lance Corporal M 316742 Armoured Division Provost Company. The Cause of Death was contusion of the brain due to an impact with a motor truck when riding a motor bicycle. P.M. Misadventure. Certificate received from G. Wills Taylor Coroner for Surrey. Inquest held 1st August 1941.
The Surrey Mirror and County Post carried the following report on 8th August 1941;
MOTOR CYCLING FATALITY
REIGATE INQUEST ON MILITARY POLICEMAN
A verdict of “Death by misadventure” was recorded by Mr. G. Wills Taylor (County Coroner) at the Inquest, at Reigate on Friday, upon Lance-Corporal Leonard Cobbett, aged 31, of the military police, whose home was at Wakefield. He sustained fatal injuries in a motor cycling accident on the previous Wednesday.
Mr. A. Lovell Hewitt appeared for the War Department and officers watching the inquiry included Captain Sir Malcolm Campbell, of the Military Police.
Sergeant H.E. West, Military Police, described deceased as having been an experienced driver and said his machine had been in “A1” condition.
Frederick Charles Carr, butcher, 5 Western Parade, Woodhatch, said that whilst he was cycling along Woodhatch-lane in the direction of Redhill, a motor cyclist overtook him and seemed to go into a skid as an army car approached from the opposite direction. “I think he was off the bicycle before he hit the car” witness added. The car was on its proper side, proceeding at a reasonable speed. Asked what he attributed the accident to witness suggested the motor cyclist who was not travelling fast declutched too suddenly and got his back wheel spinning.
Lt.-Col, Francis Harold Foster who was in the car, said the motor cycle was out of control and the car driver applied his brakes. He could not say whether the motor cyclist or his machine hit the vehicle.
The Army car driver, Reginald Herbert Taylor, said the motor cyclist’s skid took the machine on to his side of the road. The motor cycle then slid backwards and forwards across the road and seemed to shoot away from under the rider: his hands still on the handlebars and his body on the ground, being dragged. The bicycle was then moving along on its side. Witness applied his brakes. He could not say whether the machine or the rider hit the car.
P.C. Brazier gave evidence of measurements taken at the scene of the accident and of the damage to the two vehicles involved and P.C. Puddey said the injured man was removed to Redhill County Hospital.
Dr. Eric Gardner, pathologist, said death was due to contusion of the brain, following impact with the Army car.
In such circumstances the Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorate those who served in the Commonwealth armed forces during the First or Second World War, whose death occurred during the official war period and was the result of wounds inflicted or accident occurring during active service. In practice, this means that serving military personnel are commemorated irrespective of the cause or circumstances of their death.
Lance Corporal Leonard Cobbett, Military Police Corps is such a man. He is buried and remembered with honour by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at Horbury Cemetery, Sec G., grave 451.
Leonard’s father, Walter Cobbett of Glen View, 24 Peel Street Horbury was buried in Horbury Cemetery in December 1956.
Leonard’s widow, Vera (nee Robinson), married Horace Jones in late 1946.
Lance Corporal Leonard Cobbett was posthumously awarded the 1939-1945 Star and the War Medal 1939-1945 and is listed in the GPO War Memorial Book Wakefield Area. In 2022 Leonard Cobbett will be remembered at the Ossett War Memorial in the Market Place where his name will be inscribed alongside the names of his brothers and sisters in arms; the Ossett Fallen.
Discovered and researched by The Ossett Fallen Team for Ossett Heritage January 2022.
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Lance Corporal Leonard Cobbett | War Casualty Details | CWGC
