Regiment: Duke of Cornwall's Light Inf.
Died: 26 April 1915 aged 38 in Belgium. Killed in action near Ypres.
Battle: Second Battle of Ypres. Cemetery: Poperinghe Old Cemetery II P 27
Born 6th June, 1877 at Leicester. Son of E. Hingston, of "St. Oswald's", Selwyn Rd., Eastbourne.
Lower IV—Shell B. House XI Cricket.
Duke of Cornwall’s L.I. (from Militia) 1809; Captain 1909.
Served with Mounted Infantry South African War 1900-01, Despatches.
Queen’s Medal with 6 Clasps.
1st Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
'Those who were at school with Leonard Hingston will remember him as a boy of generous heart and cheery disposition, qualities which gained him many friends in later life.' (Malvernian, Jun 1915).
He was educated at Llandaff Cathedral School and Malvern College. He joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry from the Militia in October, 1899, and took part in the South African War, in which he was employed with the Mounted Infantry, and was present at operations in the Orange Free State from February to May, 1900, including actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet, and Zand River; in the Transvaal in May and June, again, from July to November, 1900; and a third time from November, 1900, to October, 1901, including actions near Johannesburg, at Pretoria, Diamond Hill, and Belfast. He was mentioned in Despatches ("London Gazette," 10th September, 1901); and received the Queen's medal with six clasps. He was promoted Lieutenant in May, 1901, and Captain in February 1909; and in December, 1911, was appointed Adjutant of the 3rd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He held this appointment until March, 1915, when he rejoined the 1st Battalion, which formed part of the Vth Division.
Captain Hingston was well-known in Switzerland as a remarkably fine skier. In the winter of 1913-14 he won the British Ski-ing Association Cup at Wengen. He was also adept at ice-hockey, winning many trophies, and a keen lawn tennis player and golfer.
Writing after his death, a General Officer said: "I wanted, as Brigadier General Commanding the brigade, to tell you how very deeply and sincerely I sympathise with you in the heavy blow that has fallen upon you. Your husband belonged to a great regiment, which has given consistently splendid service throughout the campaign, and, if I may say so, he was one of the finest officers of a fine regiment. I had often spoken to your husband on the occasion of my frequent visits to the trenches, and had always been much struck by his earnestness and thoroughness and by the keen interest which he took in all matters relating to his company and his men. To them I know his loss is a severe one, as it is indeed to all of us."
Captain Hingston married, in November 1911, Essy, youngest daughter of the late Colonel William Charles Plant, Indian Army, and left no family.
De Ruvigny & Bond of Sacrifice