Leonard Sells was born in Hemel Hempstead in early 1889 and baptised in St Paul’s Church in the town on Sunday, 17th March in the same year. He was the second son born to Harry (Henry) Sells and Ann Parkins and he had five siblings one of whom had died at birth. His surviving brothers and sisters were: Bert (Herbert), Sidney, Kate and Albert.

The Sells family lived in Union Street in Hemel Hempstead when Leonard was born; indeed, his mother Ann had been born just around the corner in Chapel Street and she lived within 100 yards of her birthplace until she died. Leonard’s father Harry was a ‘Labourer’ for his whole working life either on farms or with bricklayers in the building trade.

By 1911 all the members of Leonard’s family, with the exception of his mother, were in employment. His father and older brother Bert worked in the building trade, Leonard worked with John Dickinson & Co. Limited as a ‘Paper Puncher’, his brother Sidney worked for the Hemel Gazette as a ‘Printer’, his sister Kate was a ‘French Polisher’ of brush handles at G.B. Kents & Sons Ltd in Apsley and his youngest brother was a ‘Millhand’ at Dickinsons.

Leonard enlisted in February 1916 just before the introduction of conscription and after attesting at Hemel Hempstead he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment and was posted to the 8th (Service) Battalion to begin training at the vast ‘New Army’ training area around Woking. He went to France around August 1916 and saw action in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette before he was transferred to the 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. He then fought in the Battles of Transloy, Ancre Heights and the final engagement of the Somme offensive at Ancre.

In early 1917 he was with the Battalion near Miraumont north of Thiepval as a planned attack unfolded on the morning of 17th February. The attack was successful but the 6th Northants suffered numerous casualties in reaching its objectives, one of whom was the unfortunate Leonard.

Leonard was killed at some point during the action on Saturday, 17th February 1917.

He was commemorated on a memorial plaque in St Paul’s Church in Hemel Hempstead and on the John Dickinson & Co. Limited War Memorial in Apsley.

Leonard is Remembered with Honour on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, Pier and Face 11 A and 11 D.

He was 28 years old when he died.

Leonard was entitled to the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.