| Surname: | Reynolds |
| Initials: | L J |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 1572988 |
| Notes: | CMP. He enlisted in to the Royal Artillery 17/3/45 transferred to CMP. Extracts from Army Record:- He was born 30/9/08 at Epsom, Surrey, He enlisted 24/5/40 at Sutton, Surrey, He resided in 39 Rookery Way, Kingswood, Surrey, He married Florence Eva Holden 19/9/31 at R O Epsom, Surrey, Occupation Labourer. 15/6/45 with 83 L of C Pro Unit, 4/9/45 with southern command , 3/10/45 to 191 HQ Pro Coy. 6/2/46 to class Z (T) reserve. He served Home 24/5/40 to 4/1/42, Ceylon 5/1/42 to 3/9/45, Home 4/9/45. Medal card not found. Leslie John Reynolds. Extract from the Surrey Mirror and County Post -Friday June 21. 1946. KINGWOOD MAN'S FOLLY. EX-SOLDIER WITH GOOD ARMY RECORD SENT TO PRISON. A Kingswood ex-soldier who had been demobilised with a good Army record, but had run through his gratuity and left his wife for months without any housekeeping money, was sent to prison by the Reigate-Borough -Justices on Tuesday. He was Leslie John Reynolds (37), gardener of 39 Rookery-way, Lower Kingswood and he was charged, on remand, with stealing £2 by means of a trick from Gilbert Victor Gates, of the Yew Tree Hotel, Reigate Hill; £1 from Archibald Palmer, 1, New Cottages, Reigate Hill: £1 from Sidney Herbert Seaden, Birdhurst Bungalow, Raglan road, Reigate: and 10s from Frank Reynolds, 14 Birkheads road. Reigate. He pleaded guilty, and asked for seven other charges of larceny by means of a trick, and one case of larceny as bailee, to be taken into consideration. Inspector Ayres, prosecuting, said that on February 21st the prisoner went into the Yew Tree Hotel and told Mr Gates that he had left both is gratuity book and the wallet containing his money at home and asked if Mr. Gates could help him. "How much do you want?" asked Mr Gates and the prisoner said "Can you let me have £2?" this Mr Gages did. Prisoner's method in the other cases was similar. Repeating and amplifying the evidence given last week, the Inspector said that when interviewed at his home the prisoner said : actually I have been waiting for it for some time. We all make mistakes l, don't we? I have been going from worse to worse. At Reigate Station he made a statement admitting obtaining the money from Mr. Gates, and added: "There are other cases where I have don this, and I Think you will find, Inspector, I have adopted the same method." Expressing regret, Reynolds said that when he "got settled." he would pay every one of the losers their money back, whatever happened. "I got in" he added, " and went further and further in". Inspector Ayres said the prisoner was a married man, with one daughter aged 14. After having worked as a gold caddie and greenkeeper, and as a jobbing gardener, he was for some time in the AFS at Banstead, which he left because he was "fed up." Joining the Royal Artillery in 1940, he served for three years in India, and later was in the Corps of Military Police, serving abroad and attaining the rank of lance-corporal. His military record was that he had performed his duties efficiency and that his turn-out was smart. Since his demobilisation last October he had spent all his gratuity and had failed to support his wife and child, the wife having had to go to work to keep the home. Prisoner was described as lazy, he refused to keep permanent employment and he had been "sleeping rough" and drinking. Asked by the Justices' Clerk (Mr. Gerald Mole) whether he had anything to say about this report, Reynolds said: "When I came out I had a lot of money, went on the booze, and got from worse to worse." Mr. Mole: You have spent all that money now? - Prisoner: Yes. Reynolds added that he had been working since his demobilisation. Inspector Ayres: His wife informs me that since February he has not paid her a penny piece. But the house id spotlessly clean, and she appears to be a hardworking woman. The Chairman (Mr. C E Woodroffe) told the prisoner he had plenty of time to pull himself together. He had a good wife, a good home, and everything in his favour. Passing sentence of three months' imprisonment, the Chairman added: "I hope it will be a lesson to you and that you will come out and be a good citizen. and behave as you did in the Army. |