November 2018

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17 Buckden Roundabout
November 2018 Articles
Remembering the Fallen
Pvt Albert Leaden - From Buckden to the Battlefields of Flanders
Every year, at Buckden Remembrance Service, names are read out, in honour of soldiers who have died in war. There is a strong
Scouting tradition to support these services, and in November 2017, our Group explored some of the stories behind the names
on the Buckden Memorial.
Pvt Albert Leaden is one of those names. He was killed on the 10th November 1917,
in the last action of the Battle of Passchendaele, also know as the Third Battle of
Ypres. The Scout meeting was on 10th November 2017, one hundred years to the day
after he was killed. Albert was born in Buckden, to parents who ran a Market Garden
on what is now Leadens Lane. In 1912, aged 19, Albert emigrated to Canada, follow-
ing his older brother and uncle. He worked as a farm labourer until joining the 90th
(Winnipeg) Rifles coincidently on the 10th November 1916. On 8 th November 1917,
some days after the capture of Passchendaele village, Pvt Leaden took part in the
action to secure a final objective before the cessation of major operations over win-
ter. He was declared missing on 10th November, and then dead, one of the 10 million
soldiers killed in the four years of the conflict. For his parents on Leadens Lane, this was not their only loss. Below Albert’s name
on Buckden Memorial, is his brother, Ernest Leaden, killed in 1916.
And so to the second part of this memorial story. Inspired by the research above, on
a Thursday evening in June this year, 4 classic MGBs, an Audi TT, an MR2 and 12 oc-
cupants set off, ‘tops-down’, to catch a ferry from Dover. Over a long weekend, the
first destination was Arras, and the battlefields of the Somme, then Ypres, Passchen-
daele and finally, the moving Last Post ceremony under the Menin Gate. With good
weather all weekend, our small convoy weaved its way through the countryside,
tracing the resting places of relatives and those from Buckden Memorial. Pvts Albert
and Ernest Leaden were amongst those we found, together with Capt John Leslie
Green awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on the first day of the 1916 Somme
attacks. The magnitude of large cemeteries, with their symmetrical lines of head-
stones, the multitude of smaller cemeteries passed along the way, the dominance of monuments rising above the landscape,
covered in panel after panel with names of the missing, all served to give some small impression of the scale of losses, each
death generating grief and distress for parents, family and friends back home. Those on the Buckden memorial had probably
shared a drink with family and friends in the local pubs and attended services in the church, which we still use today.
For the twelve of us, it was a fun weekend, but the moments of poignancy provided times for reflection. We came away better
appreciating the sacrifices. This year, as I listen to the names at the Remembrance Service, I will feel a greater connection to the
lives lived, and lost, behind each one. Aidan Joy
Consecration of cemetery extension
On Tuesday, 2nd October, an unusual event took place in Buckden. Bishop
Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ely, formally consecrated an extension to the cem-
etery in Lucks Lane. This new area is the land adjacent to the Doctors’ Sur-
gery. Attached, you will see some pictures of this interesting occasion. It’s not
often that this event takes place in a community.
In line with current advice regarding ceme-
tery management, however, part of the new
area has been left unconsecrated for those
of other or no faith who would not want
their remains buried in consecrated land.
The Parish Council anticipates that the extended cemetery will allow for burials and the inter-
ment cremated remains to continue for another 30 years at this site.
Some further work needs to be done with regards to fencing in this area before we begin to
use it. We also intend, during the winter, to gravel the area of the cremated remains to im-
prove the appearance and allow for easier upkeep.