Leslie GRANT-DALTON (1889-1956)

Leslie Grant-Dalton (1889-1956) is mentioned in a letter written by Ethel Sladden in 1914.

Leslie was born on 31^st March 1889 at Upper Norwood, London, the eldest of four children (one of whom died in childhood) of Colin Grant-Dalton and his wife, Amy Ellen (née Sowler).

Although born in London, Leslie spent his childhood in Wincanton, Somerset, where his father was the Rector.  Leslie’s father died on 31^st January 1898, but the family remained living in Wincanton, at Churchfield, until at least 1911.  

Leslie was educated at Exeter College, Oxford.  In 1911 he was living at home with his widowed mother in Wincanton; his profession was described as 2nd Lieutenant Special Reserve, Somerset Light Infantry.

On the outbreak of war, Leslie went with the 1^st/2^nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, to France.  He was promoted to Lieutenant on 6^th September 1914.  He was reported missing on 13^th October 1914.  In a letter of 23^rd October 1914, Ethel Sladden asks her mother whether she had noticed that Leslie’s name was amongst the list of missing officers.  However it seems that Leslie was not missing and continued to serve as he was promoted to Captain on 1^st October 1915.  Much later in the war he was reported as being in a prisoner of war camp in neutral Holland from 6^th February 1918; he was repatriated on 14^th January 1919.  Leslie’s only brother, Harold, died of wounded in a German hospital on 28^th April 1918.

Leslie married Marmie Battye in about 1920; Marmie was the twin brother of Charles Forbes Battye who had married Leslie’s younger sister, Sybil Constance, in October 1919.  Leslie and Marmie had one son, Hugh Harold, born in 1921.  They lived at Ellerthwaite, The Goffs, Eastbourne.

Leslie died aged 67 on 12^th December 1956 at Esperance Nursing Home, Hartington Place, Eastbourne.  His widow, Marmie, died 20 years later.