War Stories: Leonard May of the East Riding Yeomanry

Gareth May

He was a farmer, I mean that was his life, he was born on a farm, he was just the eldest son so it was sort of destined that he was going to take over the farm and just carry on in that. 18 year old young lad, never left home or anything and I think he went to the infantry barracks and was sort of “shall I, shan’t I” and he remembered the Yeomanry, with him being a farmer and he went and joined up there.

Leonard May (voiceover)

I thought and thought and then at last I made up my mind. I went to the barracks and signed up right away. I was now in the Army and had to report the next day. I went home feeling rather sad.

Dr David Marchant

Well yeomanry were volunteer soldiers, most of them were recruited from rural areas so there were an awful lot of farmers, grooms, horse lads

Gareth May

It was all going to be over by Christmas, it was a chance for excitement and adventure which as a young lad living up in a rural community, there wasn’t much opportunity for that. 

Dr David Marchant

It’s not until October 1915 that they actually leave Britain and they head for Egypt and that’s when really their adventure starts. 

Leonard May (voiceover)

I think most of us soon got dysentery as the wind blew the sand into everything. The city of Alexandria was not too good, very very wicked. I dare not put down in print what went on down some of those streets. They had to be put out of bounds to us soldiers. Patrols had to be found to keep the lads out.   

Dr David Marchant

And so in the early part of the war the Turks are trying to fight their way through Sinai into Egypt and get control of the canal zone. 

Leonard May (voiceover)

We had about a year in the Fayoum and then we had to get up to the Suez canal as the Turks had got it and nearly got across. We crossed the canal at Kantara… (fade out)

Dr David Marchant

So they are doing scouting and reconnaissance initially and occasionally they would be clashing with Turkish patrols who are doing the same thing on the other side. And he takes part in all three battles around Gaza as far as we can tell.

Leonard May (voiceover)

I remember the early morning. We were in section formation, fours, and I couldn’t see the beginning or end of the horsemen. We got the order to gallop to within a few hundred yards of the hill and had to dismount and rush for cover under the hill. We were spotted and the shells started to come at us. One got near us and in my section I had a man from Howden. A piece of shrapnel got him and he was about the first to be killed in the regiment.

Dr David Marchant

They take part in one of the last cavalry charges that the British army is involved in and they do actually draw swords and charge into Turkish guns and machine guns. 

Leonard May (voiceover)

All the desert mounted corps were up so a charge was ordered as they were making a stand. Our squadron was well forward so we ran through them, many men and horses going down. I was lucky and got through all right. We took 70 prisoners and the whole corps many thousands. The Turks were sent off to find another place to make a stand. 

Gareth May

I think sometimes it’s easy to focus on the people who died but you know there’s an awful lot of stories of people who went out there who fought but survived and sometimes it’s nice that those stories actually get told. 

Leonard May (voiceover)

I got out of the train and was a bit lost after three years away but on the platform most of Brough had turned out. On reaching Brantingham Grange I was greeted by a lady singing “When you come home at eventime”. She had a lovely voice and it got me proper. I had a good bath and change before I went to bed as I was a bit lousy and very dirty. I got into bed – a proper bed after three years – so soft but I couldn’t stand it. I had to get out and sleep on the floor. I got used to it again after a few days. 

Gareth May

It’s accessible history with real documents and a real person.

Who did we work out he was, Ricky? 

Child

Your granddad or grandfather

Gareth May

That’s right.

I think it’s very easy for us in our modern society with computers and televisions, it’s very easy and it’s very very safe, and I think we can overlook the fact that actually there’s an awful lot of people made an awful lot of sacrifice to actually ensure that we are safe and we do have that liberty and the freedoms that we have in this country. We’re here because of them and we’re enjoying all the things that the modern world gives us.