John Le Fleming : Rugby Player

Dolphin · Jan 13, 2010

This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread.

Gareth

Le Fleming, John played for England

Internationals: 1 : 1887 W+

John Le Fleming was born on 23 October 1865,

Played as a Back for: Tonbridge School, Cambridge University (Blue 1884), Blackheath, Barbarians, Kent

Profession: Schoolmaster at Tonbridge School.

War service: Second Lieutenant, temporary Captain, Kent Cyclist Battalion (Territorial Force) from 15 May 1915, later Captain, temporary Major from 15 October 1915, temporary Lieutenant Colonel 5 November 1915, Second Lieutenant, temporary Captain from 3 August 1916, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).

Remarks: Amateur Athletics Association 120 yards hurdles champion 1887; athletics blue (hurdles 1886 –1888, hammer 1887). Played for Barbarians: v Corinthians (12-14) in 1892. Won Davos Bowl for ice skating 1893. Kent County Cricket Club 1890-1899.

He died on 9 October 1942, in Montreux

liverpool annie · Jan 13, 2010

Jack and his brother played cricket too !!

JACK LE FLEMING

Full name - John le Fleming
Born - 23rd October 1865, Eton House, Tonbridge, Kent, England
Died - 7th October 1942, Montreux, Switzerland
Batting - Right-hand batsman
Bowling - Right-arm slow
Occasional wicket-keeper

Education - Tonbridge; Cambridge University
Other Sports - Rugby Union for England, Blackheath and Cambridge University; Hurdles (English champion) for Cambridge University
Teams - Kent (Main FC: 1889-1899); All teams
Kent cap: 1893
TEAMS PLAYED FOR BY JACK LE FLEMING
Main F - Kent (1889-1899)
Miscellaneous - Gentlemen of Kent (1889-1892)
Kent Second XI (1900-1903)

LAWRENCE LE FLEMING

Full name - Lawrence Julius le Fleming
Born - 3rd June 1879, Eton House, Tonbridge, Kent, England
Died - 21st March 1918, Maissemy, France
Batting - Right-hand batsman
Teams - Kent (Main FC: 1897-1899); All teams
TEAMS PLAYED FOR BY LAWRENCE LE FLEMING
Main - Kent (1897-1899)
Other FC - Army (1912)
Minor Counties Championship - Kent Second XI (1914)
Miscellaneous - Tonbridge School (1896)
Kent Second XI (1897)

Dolphin · Jan 13, 2010

It looks like his brother was the CO of the 9th Bn, East Surreys, when killed during the first day of the German Kaiserschlacht offensive.

Gareth

liverpool annie · Jan 13, 2010

I found this Gareth ! .... From the History of The East Surrey Regiment

Meanwhile the remainder of the Battalion at Vermand " stood to " when the bombardment commenced. Shortly afterwards a shell fell among the horses of the Battalion transport, killing and wounding several of them, and wounding Captain E. L. Whiteman, the Transport Officer. Captain Whiteman succeeded in getting his transport into a place of safety, and remained at duty. At 7.30 a.m. the signallers' hut was struck, and several of them were killed or wounded. About 10 a.m. orders arrived from the 72nd Brigade that the Battalion was to move forward and occupy the high ground east of Villecholles.
Lieut. Colonel Le Fleming went on with a Battalion runner to reconnoitre, and directed Major Clark to bring the Battalion up as quickly as possible. The Battalion was soon on the move, and presently met several artillerymen carrying the breech-blocks of their guns. These men reported that the enemy was advancing along the road behind them and was not far away. Major Clark then ordered A Company (Lieut. W. A. V. Waldron) to extend on both sides of the road and to move forward in the reported direction of the enemy's advance. On reaching Ville cholles a position was taken up, but presently Lieut. Colonel Le
Fleming re joined and ordered that one platoon of A Company should hold the road just north of the village, and that the rest of the Battalion should advance to the high ground east of it. On reaching this position every effort was made to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy, but very little was known of it by neighbouring units.
Leaving the Battalion under cover of the ridge, Lieut. Colonel Le Fleming and Major Clark went forward to make a personal reconnaissance. They walked over the crest and about 200 yards down the eastern slope, when suddenly Major Clark saw some dark objects in front, and thought them to be the enemy. As he was pointing them out to his Commanding Officer heavy machine-gun fire was opened on them and Lieut. Colonel Le Fleming fell, shot through the head. Major Clark threw himself down also and spoke to the Colonel, but receiving no reply looked in his face and saw that he was dead. So died, in the fearless performance of his duty, a gallant and accomplished soldier. Laurence Le Fleming was widely known as an athlete, particularly in the cricket field, and universally liked (indeed, a stronger word might be used) for his very attractive and modest character. He had done fine service in the war with Germany, having commanded three battalions of the East Surrey in times of heavy trial.
The Germans made no advance, and after lying still for about a quarter of an hour Major Clark started to crawl back, and eventually managed to regain the shelter of the ridge; He at once assumed command of the Battalion. At the moment of Major Clark's arrival C Company, under Captain Warre Dymond, had extended and was crawling forward towards the crest of the ridge. On reaching the crest the company came under machine-gun fire from a flank, so, under Major Clark's orders, the Battalion took up a better position about 200 yards in rear of the crest, where broken ground gave good cover. During the afternoon the 11th Hussars, under Lieut. Colonel Anderson, came up dismounted. Their orders were to make a counter-attack at 6.30 p.m. supported by two companies East Surrey, but at the last moment the attack was cancelled by superior order. Lieut. Colonel Anderson was then placed in command of Advance Brigade Headquarters, and his regiment joined the East Surrey in manning the defences. All worked during the night in improving these. More trenches were dug and barbed wire erected. Ammunition, food and water were brought up, and the night passed without incident. Daybreak of March 22nd was attended by a thick fog. It was decided to bring in Lieut. Colonel Le Fleming's body, and Pte. Turner, a " runner" of C Company, volunteered to take a party out for the purpose. The body was brought in and carried to the dressing station at Villecholles. Pte. Turner, a brave young soldier, was subsequently killed. Early in the morning also an artillery officer reported at Battalion Headquarters that several field guns were out in front. These were successfully brought in by a party of about thirty men, chiefly of the 11th Hussars, under an officer of that regiment
Click to expand...

In Memory of

Major L J LE FLEMING
Mentioned in Despatches
2nd Bn. (Commanding 9th Bn.), East Surrey Regiment
who died age 38
on 21 March 1918
Son of the late Rev. J. and Mrs. Le Fleming.
Remembered with honour

POZIERES MEMORIAL

relbuet · Oct 20, 2013

The war record of Lawrence Julius le Fleming can be found in Stokoe's book Tonbridge school and the great war. He was the youngest of 6 children who all went to Tonbridge school. He was present at the relief of Ladysmith and the battles of Colenso and Spion Kop. He went to France in oct1914 but was severely wounded by a bullet through the face at the battle of La Bassee. He was again shot through the foot in 1915 at zonnebeke. The third bullet got him and he died instantly on 21st march 1917. The book gives far more detail. Relbuet

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