The Kent family of six boys and one girl came to Stamford between 1901 and 1911 to live at 7 Alexandra Terrace. Father, as an experienced engine fitter probably worked in one of the busy engineering works in Stamford. The three elder boys were all old enough to serve in WW I but records only exist for two of them, Leonard Alderman and John William. The record for Walter Harold may have been lost, or he may have been classified as unfit to serve. Nevertheless all three boys survived the war. This family was one of the ‘lucky’ ones whose boys served throughout the war and came safely home to marry and live long lives.

Leonard Alderman was born in 1896 at Lincoln. He lived with his parents, elder brother Walter and younger brothers John and Fred in Lincoln, moved with them to Grantham (George and Frank born) and then to Stamford (Mabel and Harry born). The whole family lived at 7 Alexandra Terrace. In 1911 Leonard had left school and was working as an errand boy for the Co-operative Bakery.

Enlisting in the 1st / 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment in 1914, Leonard served first in WW I as Private 1714, later being promoted to Lance-Corporal during his service in France. He was awarded all three standard medals and came home safely after his demobilisation in 1920.

He was married in the same year to Ethel Read, born 1898 in Huntingdon, and the couple appear to have lived in Stamford. Leonard died in Stamford in March 1956 at the early age of 59.