Name
Leslie Hermann Berlein
30 June 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DUD CORNER CEMETERY, LOOS
Plot V. Row D. Grave 7
France
Headstone Inscription
THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Plaque, Berkhamsted, Berkhamsted School Memorial, Charterhouse School Memorial Chapel, Surrey, Magdalen College Memorial Cambridge, Sunningdale School Memorial, Surrey, Lincolns Inn War Memorial, London
Pre War
Leslie Herman Berlein was born at Kimberley, South Africa on 30 January 1893, the son of Julius and Elizabeth Berlein, and one of four children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 29 Portman Street, Marylebone, London when his father's occupation was recorded as stocks and shares dealer.
His father was born in Germany but became a naturalised British subject in 1902.
Leslie was educated at Charterhouse School from 1907 to 1908, followed by Berkhamsted School and was listed there on the 1911 Census in School House, Castle Street as a boarder. He then went to Magdelene College, Cambridge and later was a member of Lincolns Inn.
The family were listed on the 1911 Census as living at Cross Oak, Northchurch, Berkhamsted, Herts, and employed seven servants. His father was recorded as a retired share dealer and had moved from South Africa with his Irish wife Elizabeth, to London in 1889/90, Julius had built his wealth on dealing in stone and slate, then stocks and shares. Leslie and siblings were raised in a wealthy and privileged environment.
At the end of the war his parents, Julius and Elizabeth, and siblings Walter and Renee returned to South Africa but regularly came back to England.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war, Leslie received a temporary commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on 25 September 1914, (later Lieutenant), with the 8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. and served in France from 8 August 1915.
He was killed in action on 25 September 1915, aged 22, during an attack near Hulluch, France. His company was leading the assault and Lt Berlein was the first out of the trenches leading his platoon. He is buried in Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, France.
His entry in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour reads: "Lieut., 8th (Service) Battn. Royal Berkshire Regt., youngest son of Julius Berlein, of Cross Oak, Berkhamsted, co. Herts, J.P.; born Johannesburg, 30 June, 1893; educ. Charterhouse, Berkhamsted School and Magdalene College, Cambridge, was a member of Lincoln's Inn, but following the outbreak of war was gazetted temporary Lieut. in the Berkshires, 19 Sept. 1914. His battn. was selected to lead the attack near Hulluch on 25 Sept 1915. In the assault his company was leading, and Lieut. Berlein was the first out of the trenches. He was killed on the front of the enemy's trenches, leading his platoon; unmarried."
Additional Information
His father, Mr J Berlein, received pay owing of £66 2s 10d. C/o, P O Box 550, Johannesburg, South Africa, he also ordered his headstone inscription: "THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD".
His older brother, Charles, was killed in action on 16 June 1915, aged 27 and is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium. His other brother Walter was sent to South Africa to keep the family coal mining business going during the war. His sister Renee married Allan Walden in 1921. Allan was a graduate from Oxford like Charles, and was a lecturer in chemistry.
N.B. Leslie appears in the Charterhouse Register as Leslie Harman Berlein, but is correctly listed on CWGC as Leslie Hermann Berlein. There is also a discrepancy in his date of birth in various sources as to 30 January or 30 June 1893. He was recorded as age 8 on the 1901 Census (taken on 31 March 1901) which suggests his birthday was in January.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jo Bayley, livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk, www.groupphoto.co.uk,
