Florence Leedham was born on 8 June 1896, one of the five children of Daniel Leedham (1858-1912) and Susan Anne Leedham née Snape (1858-1941). Her birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, London. On 21 June 1896 she was baptised in St Peter's Church, Bethnal Green, where the baptismal register confirms her date of birth, that her family were living at 36 Abbey Street, Bethnal Green and that her father was an upholsterer.
In the census that was undertaken on 31 March 1901, she was shown as Florence Leedham, aged 4 years and still residing at 36 Abbey Street, Bethnal Green, with her parents and three sisters: Susan Ann Leedham (1890-1983); Rosina Leedham (1892-1973) and Ada Leedham (b.1894). Her father continued to be listed as an upholsterer.
When her father completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 she was shown as Flory Leedham, aged 14 years and employed in picture frame making. She was still living in the five roomed property at 36 Abbey Street, Bethnal Green, with her parents and her three sisters who were listed as: Susan Leedham - a tailoress; Rose Leedham - a sewing machinist, tailoring and Ada Leedham - a cigar hand. Her father still gave his occupation as an upholsterer and claimed that his wife had given birth to five children, but that only four were still alive.
The census return form that was completed on 19 June 1921 by her widowed mother showed her as Florence Leedham, aged 25 years and a shop assistant employed by Lugton & Co, gramophone dealers at133-135 Old Street, City Road, London. She was living in three rooms within 36 Abbey Street, Bethnal Green, with her mother who was employed as a help in the kitchen at E. Lucraft & Co, 64 Church Street, Shoreditch, London and her sister, Ada Leedham, who was cigar bander employed by Vangelder, cigar manufacturers at 55 St Mary's Axe, London
Electoral rolls in 1936 show her listed, together with Grace Bramley, at 15 St Peter Street, Bethnal Green and in 1937 and 1938 they were both listed at 38 Taplow Buildings, Bethnal Green. In the 1939 electoral registers she and Grace Florence Bramley are shown at 79 Guinness Buildings, Bethnal Green.
When the England and Wales Register was compiled on 29 September 1939 her date of birth was confirmed as 8 June 1896 and she was shown as an office cleaner residing at 79 Guinness Buildings, Bethnal Green, together with Grace Bramley who was listed as a laundry maid.
She and Grace Bramley were both killed by a German bomb that fell on the Columbia Market air raid shelter on the night of 7th/8th September 1940. She was aged 44 years, but when her death was registered on 19 September at the Bethnal Green Register Office by the Registrar, Minnie M. Peters, it was completed as a result of a certificate received from D. J. Keep, the Town Clerk of the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green, who gave her age, incorrectly, as 65 years. Her date of death was recorded as 8 September 1940 and the cause was recorded as 'Due to war operations'. It is currently unknown where her .
She is shown as 'LEEDHAM Florence 65' on the Columbia Market air raid shelter memorial in the Rose Garden, Old Market Square, Ravenscroft Park, London, E2.
She is also commemorated on the , on the and in that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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