Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 25 November 1939

Links With 1914

“Somewhere in France” are Sergeant Leslie and Bombardier Laurie Mason (or to give them their proper names, Leslie Montrose and Lorenza Michael), soldier sons of Coun. and Mrs. E. Mason, 60, Frederick Street, Mexborough.

Their names are linked with the Great War, for Leslie, who is 24, was named after an Australian officer under whom Coun. Mason served during the war, and Laurie (21), was similarly named after a cousin of Coun. Mason who in the last war was in command of a destroyer which was lost with all hands.

Coun. Mason served over eight years with His Majesty’s Forces, four years in the Territorial Army, and four years and four months with Lord Kitchener’s Army. There are only these two sons—, and a daughter. Leslie is the elder and, like his brother, has been in the army four years. They will have been abroad eight weeks on Sunday. Leslie married Miss Gertie Bryan, and his home is in Castle Hills Avenue, Mexborough.

They have a young son, Keith. Before they joined up the brothers were fitters, employed at Messrs. Baker and Bessemer’s. Laurie wrote home a few days ago: “We have heard the guns for the first time since we landed in France. There were only about four shots fired. There have been more German planes over England than we have had over here, so you have no need to worry about us.”

Laurie says they are hoping to get leave “before February,” and adds: “The girls are very nice: the only trouble is we can’t speak French.”