– the story behind the picture
This picture was originally identified as that of PC Herbert Alfred Leigh of the London & South Western Railway Police, based at Southampton Docks. Recent research by David Caplehorn has now identified the Sergeant standing next to him as Charles James Leigh, his brother.
It turns out that a neighbour of David’s is Charles Leigh’s Great-Grand Daughter. The family have provided two family photographs.
David writes:
I have attached two family group photos my neighbour has allowed me to share with the group of Charles James Leigh, Police Sergeant L&SWR Company Police, stationed in Southampton Docks. Paula my neighbour being his Great-Granddaughter and affectionally refers to him as Pappy.
She confirms Charles Leigh is the tall gentleman standing on the left at the back of the coloured photo and on the right of the black and white photo. He is brother to Herbert Alfred Leigh who the group have a photo of.
The posed photo held by the H.G. of P.C. Herbert Alfred Leigh appears on Ancestry under his name, as does the photo of the Sergeant, under the name Charles James Leigh, which further confirms that we have photos of the two brothers.
I have attached a small Family tree I researched and typed up for Paula, showing that these two were siblings.
Paula knew nothing about her Great-Grandad’s brother Herbert or that he even had a brother, so was very pleased to find out about Herbert.
Unfortunately, Charles Leigh died in service from Meningitis in 1916. Herbert continued as a Sergeant at Southampton until retirement. He died in 1963.
Leigh Gallery (click individually to enlarge):
Research: David Capelhorn
Photo Research: Steve Beamon
David and Steve are both members of the BTPHG Research Group