Leonard was born in Manton, Rutland in 1896. In 1911 he was 15 and living at 7 Cornstall Buildings off St Leonard’s Street, Stamford with his parents Thomas and Emma Amelia (nee Farman ) Saunders and his sister Emma Matilda Doris (17). One sibling, Frederick William was born and had died in 1894. Their father was born in Albury, Hertfordshire and was employed as a Midland Railway signalman, his mother was born in Handsworth, originally in Staffordshire but transferred to Warwickshire and now a urban area of northwest Birmingham.

Emma Matilda Doris Saunders

Leonard was a fitter’s apprentice at an agricultural engineering works in Stamford.

In 1901 Leonard and his family were already living at 7 Cornstall Buildings.

Leonard married Jessie Miriam Smith in Stamford in 1917. Their daughters, Doris E. and Irene B., were born in 1918 and 1923 and by 1926 they were living at 38 Scotgate.

Leonard died in The Infirmary, Ryhall Road, Stamford on 2nd September 1946. At the time of his death he and his wife were living at 7 Rock Terrace, Scotgate. This was recorded in the National Probate Index, hs wife Jessie was his beneficiary.

Leonard’s sister, Emma, also continued to live in Stamford and she died at the age of 78 in 1971.