Gunner - Royal Artillery - 27 Searchlight Regiment - Service No. 2037960
Background Information
Born
30th June 1914
Academics
Rank
Gunner - Royal Artillery - 27 Searchlight Regiment - Service No. 2037960
Campaigns
Died
2nd June 1941 age 26
Leslie Ernest Percy Cory was born on 30th June 1914 in Gravesend, Kent. His father was Ernest William Cory, a Barge Owner, and his mother was Alice (née White). The first school that he attended was St James Church of England School in Gravesend.
In 1925 Leslie Cory joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Reverend Samuel Lister. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station. In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists Leslie’s home address as 8 St James Avenue, Gravesend.
In 1931 Leslie left the School and went to work at Imperial Chemical Industries, Millbank, London. He enlisted in the Territorial Army with several work colleagues in 1935. In September 1939 he married Joan Kathleen Rudd.
During World War Two Leslie enlisted in the Royal Artillery, joining 304 Battery, of the 27 Searchlight Regiment as a Gunner, Service Number 2037960.
“On the 2nd June 1941, during the Battle for Crete, Leslie Cory was killed in action, age 26. He was awarded the Military Medal posthumously for volunteering to bring back a wounded man under fire in May 1941 near Canea, Crete.
The CITATION FOR MILITARY MEDAL BY MAJOR VW VESEY:
On the 2nd May 1941, at St Matthews Hill near Canes, Crete, No.2037960 Gnr L E P Cory RA answered the call for volunteers and he with one other soldier brought in a wounded Trooper of the Hussars lying in a ravine some 800 yards away. The rescue was carried out over open ground under fire from snipers. I consider this man’s act, and the devotion to duty, is very worthy of recognition”.
Leslie Cory is remembered at the Suda Bay War Cemetery, Crete 7. D. 6.
There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Also links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/936620/cory,-leslie-ernest-percy/
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35333/supplement/6358/data.pdf
https://corysociety.wordpress.com/remembering-those-who-have-served/
