6716 Private M Leonard, 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers. He deployed with his battalion to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing on the Bavarian about 10 Nov 1899, arrived at the Cape about the 28 Nov 1899, and was sent to Durban. Along with the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Border Regiment, and 1st Dublin Fusiliers, they formed the 5th or Irish Brigade under Major General Fitzroy Hart. They were part of the Ladysmith relief force and fought at the battles of Colenso on 15 Dec 1899 (24 killed, 105 wounded), at Venter's Spruit 20-24 Jan 1900 and at Hart's Hill on 23 Feb 1900 (19 killed and over 100 wounded). In mid Apr 1900 the battalion with their brigade were sent to the Cape Colony for the relief of Wepener. They were then deployed to the Aliwal North district. On 14 Jul 1901 the Connaught Rangers under Major Moore, intrenched in a position at Zuurvlakte, between Aliwal North and Jamestown, had to withstand a determined attack by the combined commandos of Fouche and Myburg. The enemy pressed forward with great boldness, but were finally driven off at dusk after many hours' fighting, during which the battalion lost 7 killed and 20 wounded. Pte Leonard was one of those killed in the action. Three men were mentioned in despatches by Lord Kitchener for gallantry.
6716 Private M Leonard, 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers. He deployed with his battalion to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing on the Bavarian about 10 Nov 1899, arrived at the Cape about the 28 Nov 1899, and was sent to Durban. Along with the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Border Regiment, and 1st Dublin Fusiliers, they formed the 5th or Irish Brigade under Major General Fitzroy Hart. They were part of the Ladysmith relief force and fought at the battles of Colenso on 15 Dec 1899 (24 killed, 105 wounded), at Venter's Spruit 20-24 Jan 1900 and at Hart's Hill on 23 Feb 1900 (19 killed and over 100 wounded). In mid Apr 1900 the battalion with their brigade were sent to the Cape Colony for the relief of Wepener. They were then deployed to the Aliwal North district. On 14 Jul 1901 the Connaught Rangers under Major Moore, intrenched in a position at Zuurvlakte, between Aliwal North and Jamestown, had to withstand a determined attack by the combined commandos of Fouche and Myburg. The enemy pressed forward with great boldness, but were finally driven off at dusk after many hours' fighting, during which the battalion lost 7 killed and 20 wounded. Pte Leonard was one of those killed in the action. Three men were mentioned in despatches by Lord Kitchener for gallantry.
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