Memories of Consett

LEADGATE REMEMBERS Leonard Wilson Clough…

…who died on 6th August 1944 fighting with 9th Battalion Cameronians in Normandy.

Leonard was born on 17th May 1917, the second of four children to Fred Clough a miner from West Auckland and Nora Wilson from Blackhill.

The new family with sister Muriel and brothers Wilfred (who sadly died very young) and Frederick lived in George Street at Blackhill. Over the years the family moved to Hope Street, St Andrew’s Gardens, and then to Moorlands.

During this time Leonard’s father changed job and became an Overhead Crane Driver at Consett Iron Works. When he left school Leonard also got a job at the works as a Cashier’s clerk in The General Office.

Early in 1940 Leonard was called up to the army and joined the 9th Battalion of the Cameronians.

After training they became part of the UK Defensive Forces., and then at the end of 1942 they started on a long 18 months training for the invasion of Europe.

In the meantime, in 1941 Leonard was back home to get married to Eva Gargett from Roseberry Terrace who worked as an assistant in a grocer’s shop. In 1943 they had a son Brian.

Leonard had also earned promotion to the rank of Sergeant.

In June 1944 the Cameronians were based at Hove in Sussex. On 12th June they moved to Wanstead Flats in East London and from there embarked at West India Dock. They anchored at Southend on the night of 15th June before sailing for France, arriving off Arramonches during a major storm on the17th.

The storm continued for 5 days so they were not able to unload the ship until 22nd June and move inland to Secqueville-en Bessin. 

From here they set out on 26th June for their first encounter with the enemy as part of Operation Epsom in the battle for Caen. The objective was to move the front line to the River Odon and the village of Haut du Bosq. On route they were met by 12th SS Panzer division. They lost 34 men killed that day but reached their objective.

The next day 27th June 9th Cameronians moved on to attack Grainville sur Odon which was held by a section of Tiger Tanks. In more fierce fighting by the evening of 28th the village was taken, but at the cost of another 18 men. 

Germans counterattacked on the 29th with a further twelve 9th Cameronians being killed.

They maintained this position for a week continuing to suffer casualties form  German mortar fire.

On July 10th the 9th Cameronians were back in action in Operation Jupiter to recapture Hill 112.

Over the next three days another 22 men fell in and around Eterville, but in a “drawn” battle the British Army lost some 2000 men and ended leaving the hill a “no man’s land which would not be captured until August.

For the rest of July Leonard Clough and 9th Cameronians were mainly at rest in the countryside to the east of Caen. However Sergeant Clough was interviewed by a press man and gave a story about rescuing wounded men which was reported in the Consett Guardian.

On 30th July Operation Bluecoat to secure the crossroads at Vire and Mount Pincon began.

9th Cameronians had moved to Le Mesnil. Early in the morning they led the attack on Sept Vents. By mid afternoon the village had been cleared, but 9th Cameronians lost 15 men.

For the next four days they were to hold defensive positions around Laux Homes and St Martin. Late on the 5th August 1944 they moved forward to St Pierre Tarentan.

Setting off at about 7.30 in the morning of the 6th they advanced towards the village of Gournay. Here they encountered heavy mortar fire from Germans occupying the high ground at Bois des Monts. The mortar fire continued all day. After dark 9th Cameronians and the Seaforth Highlanders who had come to support them quietly moved position. But 17 men including Sergeant Leonard Clough lost their lives that day

Leonard is buried in Brouay War Cemetery, his gravestone reads:

“Forever with the Lord”

He is remembered on Leadgate War Memorial and on a Memorial Plaque in Blackhill Baptist Church

Leonard’s wife Eva and son Brian moved for a while to Leadgate. Later in life Eva married for a second time to Arthur Hudson. Brian followed his father into the offices at Consett Iron Company before entering the world of newspapers ,photography and broadcasting. Leonards parents and remaining brother and sister also lived on in the area.

My father Albert was a kind generous hard working man who was an inspiration to us all and was greatly missed when he was suddenly taken from us,before we could start to repay him for all he had done for our family. I treasure the time we had together and his passing has made me appreciate the need to live life to the full while we can.

Regards, Gerard Hanson