Pte Leonard Arthur Maynard, 118324, 56th Battalion Machine Gun Corps, died of gas shell wounds in hospital in France on March 25th, 1918. He was aged 24 and newly married.

A telegram to parents Arthur and Florence Maynard, of 16 Melson Street, Luton, on March 20th informed them that their son was dangerously ill, confirmed in letters from the Machine Gun Corps Records Office, the hospital matron and a chaplain. A second letter from the matron indicated no change, but a third described a "decided improvement" in Leonard's condition. However, a bulletin on March 25th from the hospital sister and matron broke the news of his passing.

Leonard Maynard had married Mary Griffiths at Christ Church, Luton, on October 16th, 1917. Mary had for three years been a teacher at Christ Church Girls' School, Buxton Road, and was living at 23 Grove Cottages, Cardiff Grove, Luton.

He was an old boy of Luton Modern School who became a clerk in the office of ironfounders T. Balmforth & Co. He joined the Civil Service Rifles in July 1917 and underwent training at Winchester. He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in September 1917, underwent training at Grantham and was sent to France the following November.