Leonard Edward Loader (28 Jun 1927 - 3 Aug 2017)

In loving memory of Leonard Edward Loader who sadly passed away on 3rd August 2017.

Leonard was born on the 28th June 1927 to John Francis and Minnie Loader (nee Lawrence Turner) in Erdington. He had two sisters Eileen and Thelma and two brothers Frank and Jack. The family lived in Erdington, Birmingham through the Second World War.

At school Len always looked out for those who were picked on by the bullies, which sometimes got him in to trouble. He spent a lot of time with his Grandma Emma of whom he always spoke about with great affection. He lived with her a lot and would help her out in the shop or with the billiard tables she had over the shop.

Towards the end of WWll Len told of being a ‘Fire Watcher’ and acting as a ‘Messenger Boy’ on his cycle during the bombing. He was already showing the signs of wanting adventure.

Len signed up with the Army in 1945. A few years later he met Irene through her army brother, Fred a friend of Len and fell under her spell straight away.
Len was posted to Hong Kong in December 1949 to September 1951 and then straight to Korea until July 1952. He did not see Irene for three years.
In Korea dad was responsible for the supplies and equipment, making sure it got through to the front. Many times they were attacked creating large numbers of casualties. It was a great responsibility, 500 South Korean men under his command, only in his 20’s. Some stories he has told, but many he kept to himself.
Irene waited for him all those long three years. In 1952 Len came back to England and then left the Army in December when he married Irene Tooke on 6th at St Barnabus Church, Erdington. His experiences in Korea had made him a different man.

Dad really wanted to re-join the army, which he did in February 1953 and was based in England until October 1955. During this time Irene was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and Len had their first child in 1954 a little girl, Sandra.

October 1955 the family all went on a great journey to Malaya. Dad had been asked to help train the Malaya Army Officers ready for Malaya’s Independence and we were seconded there for three years. We all left for Malaya on the 28th October 1955 on the ship ‘ MS Oranje’. The journey took about 6 weeks and must have been an amazing adventure, travelling through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, across the Indian Ocean to Malaya and Singapore. We lived in Port Dixon, right next to the jungle. While we were there dad tamed an injured wild cat, the same cat saved my life when a very poisonous snake was about to bite me.

We came back to the UK docking in London on the 30th September 1958. This gave us an opportunity to catch up with all the family. As ever with the Army, it was not long before we were posted to Munster in Germany. Here mum and dad had their second child a son, Kevin. He was born in January 1960 at the Military Hospital, Munster. We travelled a lot in Germany using it as our base to go camping throughout Europe.

After the three years in Germany we returned to the UK living in Leicester, Gillingham and Chatham in Kent with the army. Dad finished his time in the Army in 1967 having reached the rank of Regimental Sargent Major (Warrant Officer Class 1). He refused a Commission to become an officer, so he could be with mum more. We then all moved to a village called Caston in Norfolk where we owned a Post Office and Village Store for a few years. From there they moved to Devon where mum and I ran a small gift shop called The Curiosity Shop and dad was manager at the local Gas Showroom.
Both Kevin and I left home to pursue our careers when they lived in Devon. After a couple of more moves mum and dad finally settled down in Birmingham. Still a soldier dad worked for the Regular Forces Employment Agency until he eventually retired.

Gradually over the last 5 years dad became more disabled due to severe arthritis and other illnesses. Things became worse affecting dad’s ability to do many things. Impacting on his independence and ability to walk and hold things. This was very hard for dad to take, as he was a very independent person.

We remember you dad as a very good man. Principled, professional, proud and passionate. Always overcoming the challenges in your life. The final couple of years when dad was losing his ability to walk and be independent he met with the hardest challenge, but again was determined and resolute to the last. Throughout their married life mum and dad were side by side, both looking out for each other, a devoted couple. It was a great blow to dad when she died in 2015.
He became very ill over the next few months being in and out of hospital. Losing mum had a great impact on his daily life. However, he had the fortune to be placed in an excellent care home in February 2016. The care was so good he made some improvement. The staff in the home gave him another 17 months of the best quality of life he could have had. Dad and the family all thank them for this.

Dad just to let you know that we loved you and that you will be missed. You will be remembered for the love you gave us, the gift of your strengths and personality which, we used as foundations to build our lives, your brave determination, dry sense of humor and the twinkle in your eye.

Once a soldier, always a soldier and to the very last a soldier.
Rest in peace dad with mum at your side once again.

Sandra.

Flowers accepted or donations to 'Help for Hero's'.