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Private Leonard Bruce Roper
Description
TitlePrivate Leonard Bruce RoperSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionLeonard was born on 12 July 1895 in Courtenay, son of Frederick William and Evaline Roper. Before enlisting he worked as a blacksmith at Kirwee, where he passed his medical exam on 4 September 1915. He was 5ft 10in tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.
Leonard enlisted on 18 October 1915 at Trentham. After time at Featherstone camp where he suffered both an episode of influenza in December followed by an attack of the measles in January he embarked on the 4th March 1916 from Wellington as part of the 10th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He sailed via Suez and Port Said to Egypt where New Zealand troops were organised into the New Zealand Division and sailed for France. Leonard was at Etaples and Armentiers. On the 15th September he was sent to a casualty station with the notation "shell shock". On the 24th September, ten days later, he rejoined his unit. On the 1 October 1916, six days after that, he was reported killed in action aged only 21 years. His Sergeant reported "Killed at 2am on October 2nd. About 6pm a German who crawled up a sap and tried to bomb us and as soon as they began he got a box of bombs and went over the parapet and threw them. The next morning we found him lying dead and buried him at the trench about two miles to the left of Flers." His body was gathered in by the Commonwealth War Graves Comission and he now lies in the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery in grave XXV. A. 2. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Malvern County & Greendale War Memorials.
First NameLeonard BruceLast NameRoperFamilySingleSon of Frederick William and Evaline RoperDate of Birth12 July 1895Place of BirthCourtenay, CanterburyDate of Death1 October 1916Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21
Leonard enlisted on 18 October 1915 at Trentham. After time at Featherstone camp where he suffered both an episode of influenza in December followed by an attack of the measles in January he embarked on the 4th March 1916 from Wellington as part of the 10th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He sailed via Suez and Port Said to Egypt where New Zealand troops were organised into the New Zealand Division and sailed for France. Leonard was at Etaples and Armentiers. On the 15th September he was sent to a casualty station with the notation "shell shock". On the 24th September, ten days later, he rejoined his unit. On the 1 October 1916, six days after that, he was reported killed in action aged only 21 years. His Sergeant reported "Killed at 2am on October 2nd. About 6pm a German who crawled up a sap and tried to bomb us and as soon as they began he got a box of bombs and went over the parapet and threw them. The next morning we found him lying dead and buried him at the trench about two miles to the left of Flers." His body was gathered in by the Commonwealth War Graves Comission and he now lies in the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery in grave XXV. A. 2. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Malvern County & Greendale War Memorials.
First NameLeonard BruceLast NameRoperFamilySingleSon of Frederick William and Evaline RoperDate of Birth12 July 1895Place of BirthCourtenay, CanterburyDate of Death1 October 1916Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageMalvern War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryCaterpillar Valley CemeteryGreendale War MemorialMalvern County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingBlacksmithRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details18th October 1915Service Number6/3853Embarkation4th March 1916Place of EmbarkationWellingtonCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private Leonard Bruce Roper. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/315