The Story So Far
Beginning At St. Georges Parish, Westminster, London 1839

According to Henry Frederick’s marriage certificate his fathers name was Simon, I have been unable to find birth/marriage/death records for a Simon Leake or anyone by that name being related to Henry. At this time 10th April 2008 I have no record of Henry’s d.o.b only reference to his age at a particular point in time. E.g.Henry was aged 20 when he enlisted on the 18th September 1859. and on the 18th February 1881 Discharged at Colaba, Bombay, aged 41 and 3/12 days.

I have searched birth/baptism and parish records for A Henry Leake born between June 1838 and March 1841 but no records exist.

The 1st record of a Henry Leake in any census was found in 1841, St Margaret in the City of Westminster, the census showed this Henry was 2 years old at the time of census which ties up with Henry Fredericks age. note Thomas, Mary, Eliza, Mary.

I then obtained the 1851 census showing Henry aged 11 (a scholar). At 3 Lewisham Street ( see maps)

I then searched all records relating to Thomas (Father), Mary (Mother), Eliza and Mary (Sisters) and found the following:

Eliza (Baptism) Thomas and Mary living at Kelso Place, London (1829)

Henry Frederick

Henry Frederick Leake a carpenter (aged 20 years) born in the parish of ST George, London, enlisted in Her Majesty’s Artillery on the 18th September 1859 at Westminster, London. A bounty of £3.0s.0d was given. His Army No. 5638 changed to 619. (based at Warley, England) See map for locations listed below

Sailed for Madras, India as part of the Royal regiment of Artillery, on the ship Trafalgar on the 1st October 1859. He had with him the sum of £1.9s.10d.

19th January 1861 he was stationed at ST Thome (Fort Saint George), Madras India

14th October 1861 he was transferred to Her Majesty’s Army at a station in British Burmah, named Tonghoo. Until May 1865 Approx.

Promoted 10th August 1868 Promoted to Acting Bombardier

December 1868 was based at Secunderabad (nr Hyderabad)

Married 26th March 1868 to Caroline Woolridge at Secunderabad, India.
(Caroline was an Orphan, her father (Sgt.Thomas Woolridge) died at Mellose Hospital 18th March 1859, she was brought up by the orphans establishment)

Birth of Rebecca 17 Dec 1868, Secunderabad

Promoted 26th June 1870 Promoted to Bombardier

See St. Johns Church, Secunderabad 

January 1871 was based at Poonamallee, a Garrison Town in Madras
Birth of William David 13 Jan 1871, Poonamallee

January 1872 was based at Fort Saint George, Madras
Birth of Henry Frederick Jnr 28 May 1873, Madras

Promoted 10th January 1873 Promoted to Corporal

January 1874 was based at Secunderabad (nr Hyderabad)
Birth of Arthur Charles 10 Aug 1875

January 1876 was based at ?
Promoted 21st August 1876 Promoted to Sergeant

January 1877 was based at Cannanore see maps (90 kms. north of Calicut and 120 kms from Mangalore. Cannanore is one of the important station in the Indian Railways)
Birth of Phoebe 9 Dec 1877

January 1879 was based at Deolali see maps (16 km away from Nashik)

The cantonment was established by the British in the early 1860s near to Nasik and served as a clearing centre for European troops in both World Wars. A military psychiatric hospital was founded here and it is thought that the expression 'to go doolally' came about as a corruption of the name Deolali.

13/8 and 8/11 were part of the Kandahar siege train that commenced its march towards Afghanistan from Sukkur (Sind) on 16th Dec 1878,
but halted shortly after news that Kandahar had been taken (8 Jan 1879). While some were ordered back to India, others marched on to Quetta, across the Kutchi desert, via Shikapur, Jacobabad, Barshori and Bagh, to Dadar at the Bolan Pass (siege train was south of Dadar 14 Jan 1879), Kirta, Mach and Darwaza, and then stationed at Quetta
until July 1879, when it was broken up and the material handed over to the
Ordnance Department. Each under a subaltern officer with two non-commissioned officers and ten picked gunners, the whole under Major Noble . The Offical History has 13/8 "south of Dadar" 14 Jan 1879, and at Quetta 16 May 1879.

May 1880 was based at Colaba, (Tip of Bombay) see maps
Birth Albert Edward 29 Aug 1880

18th February 1881 Discharged at Colaba, Bombay, aged 41 and 3/12 days, height 5’ 6”, Hazel eyes, Brown Hair. Intended place of residence Secunderabad. see maps

8th July 1887 was awarded his Chelsea “out” Pension of 1/- shilling a day.

Promotions
10th August 1868 Promoted to Acting Bombardier
26th June 1870 Promoted to Bombardier
10th January 1873 Promoted to Corporal
21st August 1876 Promoted to Sergeant

Births
Rebecca 17 Dec 1868, Secunderabad
William David 13 Jan 1871, Poonamalee
Henry Frederick Jnr 28 May 1873, Madras
Arthur Charles 10 Aug 1875, Secunderabad
Phoebe 9 Dec 1877, Cannanore
Albert Edward 29 Aug 1880, Colaba

Deaths
Henry Frederick
Caroline

See St. Johns Church, Secunderabad

William David

William David Leake Born 13 Jan 1871, Poonamallee, a Garrison Town in Madras

Married Josephine Hillier 14 Dec 1892.
(Josephine died aged 27 years 11 months and 11 days) 5th September 1894

See St. Johns Church, Secunderabad

Married Alice Mary Crangle - 17 Apr 1895 - St John The Baptist, Secunderabad

Medals
The Volunteer Long Service Medal 1894
Victory Medal 1914 – 1919
The British War Medal 1914-1918

Births (To Alice)
Cyril Victor Owen 23 Dec 1895
James Herbert 18 Jan 1897
Oswald Garibaldi 17 Mar 1898
Hugh Felix David 17 Apr 1899
Beatrice_Eugine_Lilieth 14 Apr 1900

Deaths
Oswald Garibaldi 23 Dec 1898 (Aged 9 Months) Trichinopoly
Beatrice_Eugine_Lilieth 30 Aug 1900 (Aged 4 ½ Months) Trichinopoly
James Herbert 9th June 1970 Coventry