Rifleman Leonard Roland Donne, 37031, King's Royal Rifles, died at Dormstadt in Germany as a prisoner of war on June 23rd, 1917. He was captured after being wounded in action on April 23rd.

After twice being rejected, Rifleman Donne joined the KRR in November 1916, and went to France soon after Christmas following two months in training at Wimbledon.

Initial reports home said Rifleman Donne, aged 25, had been treated at a British dressing station, where his wounds were not considered to be serious. Trace of him had been lost after he left there.

It was on a postcard dated May 3rd from Leonard that parents William Douglas and Clara Jane Donne, of 274 Dunstable Road, Beech Hill, Luton, learned he was a prisoner of war. He wrote: "This will come as a great relief, I know. I was wounded on April 23rd and was taken prisoner the next day. A machine gun bullet entered my right shoulder, penetrated the lungs, and left at the left side. However, I am getting on as well as can be expected." The card came from Lager Lazarett, Langensalza, Prussia.

Before joining up, Leonard was an accounts clerk with Commercial Cars Ltd. He also took an active part in church work - as sacristan and a Sunday school teacher at All Saints Church, and as secretary of the local branch of the Church of England Missionary Society.

Among his legatees was a Miss Ethel Brown, perhaps his fiancee.

Notification of death from the red cross can be found on the international red cross external site.