25/563 Sergeant Leonard Francis Edward Penrose, (15/11/1894-30/5/1917). "reconnoitering for a position"

SERGEANT PENROSE. 

Sergeant Leonard F. E. Penrose, of whose death from wounds information has been received, was the second son of Mr W. Penrose, of this City. He was born in Timaru, but was educated at the Dunedin High School, after which he entered his father’s business; but his health breaking down he went on to the land in Blenheim. It was from there he enlisted in the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and left New Zealand in January, 1916. He went straight to France, where he remained, and was through the battle of the Somme, attached to a machine-gun section. The sergeant in charge of the gun was killed in action, and young Penrose was promoted to the rank of sergeant on the field, and given charge of the gun. It is surmised that he was wounded in reconnoitering for a position for his gun. He was evidently taken to England, and died in a military hospital there.   -Evening Star, 2/6/1917.

Leonard Penrose was promoted to Sergeant during the Battle of the Somme in late 1916.  He was sent to a Gunnery School shortly afterwards. He was wounded in the abdomen during a quiet period but a busy one in preparation for the forthcoming Battle of Messines.  The date was May 8.  He died 22 days later, in the New Zealand General Hospital at Walton-on-Thames.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.