Roland Leighton
Encyclopedia
Roland Aubrey Leighton was a British poet and soldier, immortalised in Vera Brittain
's memoir, Testament of Youth
.
His parents, Robert Leighton and Marie Connor, were both writers. Leighton was a pupil at Uppingham School
, where he became a close friend of Vera Brittain's brother, Edward. Leaving Uppingham in July 1914, Roland was awarded the Classical
Postmastership
at Merton College, Oxford
but the War broke out before he took his place. He obtained a commission
in the Norfolk Regiment and served with the Worcestershire Regiment
in France. He died of wounds on 23 December 1915 at the age of twenty (although his gravestone incorrectly states that he was 19), having been shot by a sniper through the stomach while inspecting wire in front of a trench, and is buried in the military cemetery at Louvencourt
, near Doullens
, France
. Although Leighton never took up his place at Merton College, his name is on the war memorial there.
Vera Brittain
, who had accepted his proposal of marriage four months before his death, was to portray him, and quote some of his work, in her writing at the time, and later in Testament of Youth
; many of Leighton's letters are included in Letters from a Lost Generation, a compilation of her wartime letters, edited by Alan Bishop and Mark Bostridge
, that was published in 1998. His mother anonymously published a memoir of him called Boy of My Heart in 1916.
In the 1979 TV adaptation of Testament of Youth, Roland was played by Peter Woodward
. The role was taken by Rupert Graves
in the 1998 BBC Radio 4
adaptation of Letters from a Lost Generation and by Christian Brassington
in BBC 1's documentary Vera Brittain: A Woman in Love and War in 2008.
Roland's younger sister was the artist Clare Leighton
.
Vera Brittain
Vera Mary Brittain was a British writer, feminist and pacifist, best remembered as the author of the best-selling 1933 memoir Testament of Youth, recounting her experiences during World War I and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism.-Life:Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Brittain was the...
's memoir, Testament of Youth
Testament of Youth
Testament of Youth is the first installment, covering 1900–1925, in the memoir of Vera Brittain . It was published in 1933. Brittain's memoir continues with Testament of Experience, published in 1957, and encompassing the years 1925–1950...
.
His parents, Robert Leighton and Marie Connor, were both writers. Leighton was a pupil at Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
, where he became a close friend of Vera Brittain's brother, Edward. Leaving Uppingham in July 1914, Roland was awarded the Classical
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
Postmastership
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
at Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
but the War broke out before he took his place. He obtained a commission
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Norfolk Regiment and served with the Worcestershire Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
The Worcestershire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 29th Regiment of Foot and the 36th Regiment of Foot....
in France. He died of wounds on 23 December 1915 at the age of twenty (although his gravestone incorrectly states that he was 19), having been shot by a sniper through the stomach while inspecting wire in front of a trench, and is buried in the military cemetery at Louvencourt
Louvencourt
Louvencourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Louvencourt is situated northeast of Amiens, on the D938 road-Population:-External links:*...
, near Doullens
Doullens
Doullens is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.Its inhabitants are called Doullennais and Doullennaises.-Geography:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Although Leighton never took up his place at Merton College, his name is on the war memorial there.
Vera Brittain
Vera Brittain
Vera Mary Brittain was a British writer, feminist and pacifist, best remembered as the author of the best-selling 1933 memoir Testament of Youth, recounting her experiences during World War I and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism.-Life:Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Brittain was the...
, who had accepted his proposal of marriage four months before his death, was to portray him, and quote some of his work, in her writing at the time, and later in Testament of Youth
Testament of Youth
Testament of Youth is the first installment, covering 1900–1925, in the memoir of Vera Brittain . It was published in 1933. Brittain's memoir continues with Testament of Experience, published in 1957, and encompassing the years 1925–1950...
; many of Leighton's letters are included in Letters from a Lost Generation, a compilation of her wartime letters, edited by Alan Bishop and Mark Bostridge
Mark Bostridge
Mark Bostridge is a British writer and critic. He was born in 1960 and educated at the University of Oxford, where he was awarded the Gladstone Memorial Prize.His first book was Vera Brittain: A Life, co-written with Paul Berry and published in 1995...
, that was published in 1998. His mother anonymously published a memoir of him called Boy of My Heart in 1916.
In the 1979 TV adaptation of Testament of Youth, Roland was played by Peter Woodward
Peter Woodward
Peter Woodward is an English actor, stuntman and screenwriter. He is probably best known for his role as Galen in the Babylon 5 spin-offs Babylon 5: A Call to Arms, Crusade and Babylon 5: The Lost Tales....
. The role was taken by Rupert Graves
Rupert Graves
Rupert Graves is an English film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for his role as DI Lestrade in the critically acclaimed television series Sherlock.-Early life:...
in the 1998 BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
adaptation of Letters from a Lost Generation and by Christian Brassington
Christian Brassington
Christian Brassington is a British actor. He trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and attended Basingstoke Stageschool from a young age.-Career:...
in BBC 1's documentary Vera Brittain: A Woman in Love and War in 2008.
Roland's younger sister was the artist Clare Leighton
Clare Leighton
Clare Veronica Hope Leighton was an English/American artist, writer and illustrator, best known for her wood engravings.Clare Leighton was born in London on 12 April 1898, the daughter of Robert Leighton and Marie Connor Leighton , both authors...
.
Further Reading
- Marie Leighton, Boy of My Heart (1916).
- Paul Berry and Mark Bostridge, Vera Brittain: A Life (1995)
- Alan Bishop and Mark Bostridge (eds), Letters from a Lost Generation (1998)
External links
- The Roland Leighton Collection in The First World War Poetry Digital Archive by Oxford University contains images of all Leighton's's War poetry manuscripts, letters to Vera BrittainVera BrittainVera Mary Brittain was a British writer, feminist and pacifist, best remembered as the author of the best-selling 1933 memoir Testament of Youth, recounting her experiences during World War I and the beginning of her journey towards pacifism.-Life:Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Brittain was the...
, plus a searchable text corpora. - Biography including some of his poetry on the Western Front Association website
- Leighton’s gravestone at Peace Pledge Union website
- Notes about their relationship by Nancy Huntting
- Image of Leighton
