Ian Lennard Mould

This story and photo is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Ian Mould, nephew of Ian Lennard Mould. Additional research by Mavis Williams.

The following has been gleaned from patchy family memorabilia and Lance Corporal Ian Lennard Mould’s Service Records. In common with others, my family rarely spoke about WW2, therefore there are numerous gaps I’m afraid. I was born many years after Ian was killed in action, he was the Uncle I never knew. I was named after him and think of him often.

Lance Corporal Ian Lennard Mould was born in Peaslake, near Guildford, Surrey on 21st December 1924, the son of Reginald Cecil Lane & Katherine Marshall Mould, who were married in the March quarter of 1918. He was the third of four boys, my father being the first.

His father (my grandfather), a WW1 Veteran who had served in the Leicestershire Regiment, was a poultry farmer at that time. The family moved to Cumbria by 1930 to start a new forestry business and later relocated to Leicestershire around 1937.

Ian attended Trent College, Long Eaton, Nottingham as a boarder from 1935 to 1942. He joined the Officer Training Corps (Trent College) 1939 to 1942 and then the Armoured Training Centre in 1942.

Ian's older brother, Reginald was already in the forces, having joined up in 1940. He was serving in the Leicester Regiment. Ian volunteered and was enlisted for WW2 service on 28th January 1943, just after he turned 18 years old. At 5ft 11in (180cm), weighing 154lbs (70kg) he was declared fit for general service. His occupation was listed as ‘unemployed’.

Ian was initially transferred to the Infantry Training Centre, Northamptonshire Regiment in April 1943, and then in April 1944 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.

He took part in the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944, going ashore at Jig Green, East and West sides, Gold Beach near Hable de Heurtot. Having survived the landings, he advanced with his regiment through France. He was seriously wounded during heavy fighting near Caen on 11th August 1944.

He was shipped back to the UK to a hospital in Southampton on 15th August 1944. The next day he was moved to Park Prewett Hospital, Basingstoke where he died on 17th August 1944.

His funeral took place at Bottesford Church on 21st August 1944, and he was buried in the cemetery there. His resting place in Bottesford churchyard is recorded as a Commonwealth War Grave.