Sir Oliver Leese’S Photograph Album Chris Dumbell Was Given This Photograph Album by Sir Oliver Leese As He Felt It Belonged to Lower Hall

Sir Oliver Leese’s Photograph Album Chris Dumbell was given this photograph album by Sir Oliver Leese as he felt it belonged to Lower Hall. Had he not done so then the album may well have ended up in Tabley, Cheshire or, even worse, in the bin. Chris has treasured the album over all these years and wanted to share this album with you, the people of Worfield, to whom the album in a sense belongs. I cannot include all the photographs but later in the year I hope we will have a history exhibition and display more of the photographs and at that time Lower Hall gardens will be open and Chris and Donna Dumbell will be able to tell you their personal experiences of the man himself. All the photographs are on Sharehistory.org at http:// www.sharehistory.org/projects/86-oliver-leese-photo-album Oliver William Hargreaves Leese was born in London in 1894, the son of Sir William Hargreaves Leese and Violet Mary Sandeman. In 1933 he married Margaret Alice Leicester-Warren, the daughter of Cuthbert Leicester-Warren and Hilda Marguerite Davenport. Educated at Eton College, he served on the Western Front In World War 1 and was injured three times. He stayed in the army and in the Second World War he served under Montgomery in North Africa and served with Montgomery and Patton in Sicily. In 1944-1945, Leese was Commander in Chief of the Allied Land forces in South East Asia. He retired from the army in 1947. Sir Oliver Leese died in 1978 and is buried in the Lower Churchyard at St Peter’s Worfield A word about the connection between the Davenport family and the Leicester-Warrens. Hilda Marguerite Davenport was the only child of Edmund Henry Davenport and Margaret Ann Smith. Edmund and Margaret married in Tasmania and returned to live in Worfield in October 1875. Included in the album is a newspaper cutting describing the homecoming of ‘the squire and his wife.’ The Adams, Stokes,Tarrant, Blundell, Rogers and others families are mentioned and as the happy couple drove from Wyken to Worfield, every house was decked with flowers. The Adams display included the banner’ Bright Be Thy Path Fair Bride.’ In 1904 Hilda Davenport married Cuthbert Leicester Warren whose family seat was at Tabley in Cheshire and the two houses, of Davenport and Tabley were united. Margaret Alice Leicester-Warren (seen below) was born in 1905/6 and her brother, John, was born in 1907. Neither Margaret Leese nor John Leicester-Warren had children (John never married) so without the album we might never have had these charming family photographs. Sir Oliver Leese’s Photograph Album Five years after their marriage, Oliver Leese and his wife were given the tenancy of Lower Hall which must have been quite a change from Chelsea. To be absolutely correct, Margaret was given the tenancy and in the album is a greetings telegram her mother sent. There was clearly notmuch choice in the Greetings category because it seems to be a Christmas telegram although it was sent in April. It reads a little strangely saying ‘A happy tenancy to you both.’ Today one might have expected ‘Wishing you every happiness in your new home.’ Perhaps Margaret’s mother was making a point, perhaps not, who knows. There are so many questions one would like to ask. What did Oliver Leese make of his new home and the village? It would appear that he loved both as there are newspaper cuttings about the village and many photographs of the house and gardens. The instability in Europe in 1938 may have been the prompt to move to the country and as events turned out in 1939 one can imagine that her husband would have been happier to leave his wife in the safe haven of Worfield rather than in London. On his retirement Sir Oliver Leese, as he then was, proudly displayed his army memorabilia at Lower Hall. The change to civilian life must have been difficult, although someone said he simply exchanged the running of an army unit for the running of Worfield village. Being a man of action he had to find some occupation. He and his wife decided to start a market garden. Whether this was his idea or Margaret’s I don’t know but it would appear from the many photographs of the garden that they both enjoyed gardening and so this was the perfect venture for them to enjoy together. Later, of course, he specialised in mushroom growing and then in the growing of cacti for which he gained a considerable reputation. Sir Oliver Leese’s Photograph Album Admiring the lupins at Lower Hall Sir Oliver Leese’s Photograph Album In 1939 Worfield Mill was being demolished and there are photographs of its demise, small amateur snapshots which compare with many in the album which seemed to be professionally taken. One of the perks of being famous is that people want to take your photograph. During the War American troops trained in various locations in the UK to prepare for the D- Day landings. It is likely that Oliver Leese suggested to his friend and colleague General Patton that Davenport and Tabley would be suitable places for training camps. Although there is no photograph of General Patton at Davenport, there is one of him at Tabley, shown below in 1944. I believe that is Margaret Leese in the tank but would like confirmation. Sir Oliver Leese’s Photograph Album When the Americans left, the Davenport camp became a prisoner of war camp. The POWs worked around the village and on the farms. I believe that ‘Alec’ Sobukzuk was probably a POW and, if so, this is the first such photograph I have seen. ‘Alec’ Sobukzuk and Oliver Leese Oliver Leese always looked the country squire with more than a touch of the Lieutenant General but whenever he and his wife are spoken of they are remembered with great affection and pride. Many thanks to Chris and Donna Dumbell for allowing this photo album to be shared and ensuring that Sir Oliver and Lady Leese are not forgotten..

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