1st, 2nd and 8th Battalions, East Lancashire Regiment.

Awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 11 November 1916.

Whittle was a native of Nelson, Lancashire.

The Colne and Nelson Times of 19 June 1918 reported, Awards Presented. The M.M., and bar won by Private Leonard Whittle of the East Lancashire Regiment has been presented to him at a ceremony at Saltburn on Sea. The recipient of 33, Walverden Road, Nelson won the M.M., for bravery on the 6 July 1916, and the bar for bravery during August of last year. Prior to enlisting he was employed by Messrs. Nelson and Son, in the Doubling room of Valley Mill, Nelson.

The Burnley Express of 20 July 1918 reported, DOUBLE MEDALIST AT NELSON. Corporal Leonard Whittle, whose home is at 33, Walverden Street, Nelson, has the distinction of having won the Military Medal twice. He was mentioned in General Wilson's despatch of July 16th, 1915, and again in General French's despatch of August, 1915, in each case he was awarded the Military Medal. Corporal Whittle was a territorial, and joined up in August, 1914 at the outbreak of hostilities. He was gassed in 1915 and wounded in December, 1917. Before joining up he worked at Messrs. James Nelson's doubling mill.

Whittle served in the 2nd battalion from 25 January 1915 until 20 December 1915 when he was invalided due to gas poisoning. On recovery he served with the 8th battalion from 18 December 1916 until 18 January 1918 when he was invalided to the Queen Mary Hospital at Whalley, Lancashire due to a gunshot wound to the right knee. Despite the above report no trace of any "mentions" or the award of a bar to his Military Medal could be found in the London Gazette.

Despite the above reports no trace of any “mentions” or the award of a bar to his Military Medal could be found in the London Gazette. He was however recommended for an award for the actions of 6 to 10 July 1915 which was published in the battalion war diary, this reads, “5747 Private Wittle(sic) along with 10674 Private Claydon were in the Fortin 17 part of the trenches throughout the bombardment. Their company commander reports that they were to be seen frequently encouraging the men in their vicinity to shoot steadily and well, whilst supporting the attack on their left.They constantly exposed themselves to the fire in doing so.”

Registered paper 68/121/57.