Book of Remembrance

Leslie Burrell joined the Grenadier Guards in 1936. In October 1941 he was posted to the 6th Battalion on its formation, and at the battle of Mareth he was already Company Sergeant Major of No 2 Company, the Anti Tank Company at the extraordinarily early age of 25. His actions to get the carriers across the minefield, in support of the Battalion earned great admiration. In 1949 he became SergeantMajor of the 1st Battalion. His Commanding Officer, General John Nelson, wrote “I was very fortunate in having Leslie Burrell as my Regimental Sergeant Major. He was outstanding, even among the very high calibre warrant officers that the Household Division has always produced.” The Battalion was stationed at Tripoli, having moved there from Palestine when they had relieved the 3rd Battalion at the end of 1947. In contrast to their active role in being last out of Palestine in July 1948, nearly three years of garrison life in Tripoli, with no home leave, was a testing time for the Battalion. Leslie Burrell, promoted in 1949 to succeed Arthur Spratley as Sergeant Major was very much liked and respected by allmembers in the Battalion and throughout 1st Guards Brigade. His qualities were never more important and influential. In 1951 the Battalion came home toWarley Barracks in Essex, and soon moved to Windsor where Leslie was at once involved in the ceremonial duties consequent on the death of King George VI. In 1953 Leslie was granted a quartermaster commission in the Grenadier Guards and was immediately appointed Quartermaster of the Battalion where he remained until 1959.He served the 1st Battalion almost without a break for ten years, first as Regimental SergeantMajor and then as Quartermaster, a unique record, and wasmost deservedly appointedMB.He was posted to the Guards Depot as Messing Officer, and retired in 1962.He then was employed byMajor PatWills, a former Grenadier officer helping to run his estates in Hampshire and in Scotland. These were happy times for Leslie and Catherine, whom he had married in 1941, and their children, Bernard and Pamela and their grandchildren. He finally retired to Devon and died on 16th March 2008.