Leonard A's Story.
Birkenhead News 12 February 1916
“He Died Gloriously”
Captain’s Tribute to Birkenhead “Pal”
The death has occurred in France, and has been officially confirmed, of Private Leonard A. Dyall, of the 17th Service Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regt. (“Pals”). He was the son of Mr. Albert Dyall, of Birkenhead, and the nephew of the late Mr. Charles Dyall, for many years curator of the Liverpool Walker Art Gallery.
Private Dyall was aged 20, and joined the Army in 1914. Previous to the war he held a position in the firm of Messrs. Davidson, Cookson and Co., Castle Street, Liverpool. In private life he was exceedingly popular, being of versatile and cheery disposition, and from letters received from officers of the “Pals” he appears to have been much esteemed by his comrades. A letter from his Captain, explaining that on January 24th Private Dyall was shot in the temple, states that he was holding with others a dangerous “listening position” in an exposed part of our lines. After being hit, he only lived in an unconscious state for an hour. The letter goes on to say: “He was buried the next day, with the flag he died for over his body. He died gloriously, doing his duty under very difficult circumstances. He was greatly loved and esteemed among his comrades, also having been so willing, bright and cheerful. His loss has been greatly felt amongst us, and we feel that by his death the Army has lost an exceedingly fine man, and a strong arm.”