Peers, Leslie Heywood
The newest four beds in Norwood Cottage Hospital are in memory of a young soldier who fell at Mareth and whose remains rest in the sand of the African Desert battlefield over which he fought with Montgomery’s 8th Army from El Alemein to Tunis. The beds, two in the women’s ward and two in the men’s ward, are in memory of Lieut. Leslie Pers, Green Howards, 28 years old son of Mr & Mrs J. R. Peers, Alleyn Park.
Fighting for a new world and sacrificing his life in the attempt, Leslie did not forget the humane concerns which had held his interest in peace-time. He left money to the Norwood Cottage Hospital – out of which the beds were bought – to the Church Army, to Dr. Barnado’s Homes and to two other good causes.
He first became interested in the hospital through his connection with the Norwood Cleaning and Carpet Treating Co. Ltd., Hamilton -road, West Norwood, which, until recently, had been controlled by his father for forty years. Leslie acted as joint managing director and was responsible for taking accident cases from the firm to the hospital. He was to have followed his father in the business, but owing to his death, Mr. Peers sen., has retired.
Leslie attended the Dulwich Preparatory School, went to Lancing College and matriculated from King’s College, London. He was a Territorial and fought with the Green Howards across the desert until he was killed by a shell in March 1943. Norwood News
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Peers |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Leslie Heywood |
| Family details | Son of James Robinson and Ellen Gertrude of Dulwich |
| Previous education | Lancing College |
| College | King's College London and/or King's College London Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1930-1931 |
| Dept / course | Preliminary Class |
| Military unit | Green Howards (Yorkshire) |
| Service number | 138269 |
| War / conflict | World War Two (1939-1945) |
| Date of death | 17/03/1943 |
| Age at death | 29 |
| Rank at death | Lieutenant |
| Cause of death | Died of wounds at Mareth 8th Army (West Norwood Press) |
| Burial place | Medjez-El-Bab Tunisia |
| Commemoration(s) | King’ s College Chapel |
| Sources | King’ s College London Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; |