Lieutenant Kenneth Hugh Pegg

2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, having transferred from 'D' to 'C' Company on the 29th December 1915. He took over command of 'C' Company on the 9th January 1916. He has previously served as Private 30475 in the Canadian Army Service Corps, then as Private 30475 in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Second Lieutenant in the Leicestershire Regiment before becoming a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion.

Killed in action in or near Orah, Mesopotamia on the 20th February 1916.

He is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial, Iraq. Panel Ref: Panel 12

Son of Abraham and Anne Elizabeth Pegg. His father died in 1892, the year that Kenneth Hugh Pegg was born. His mother re-married in 1894 and the family lived at St. Martins East, Leicester with their step-father the Rev. Samuel John Woodhouse Sanders. In 1911 the family lived at Rothley Vicarage with the Rev. Sanders who was the Vicar. Brother to William Geoffrey Pegg, Annie Gertrude Pegg, Kathleen Mary Pegg and step-brother to Samuel P. Sanders.

His step-father died aged 69 at Rothley Vicarage in December 1915, buried in Rothley Cemetery in what was designated a War Grave in 2012. His mother died aged 66 in London but buried in Rothley Cemetery with her second husband.

On the 11th June 1914 Kenneth Hugh Pegg sailed to Canada with Cunard on the 'Ascania', his occupation was a Farmer after working as a Land Agent when in Rothley.

Named on the War Memorial, Parish Church Roll of Honour, Parish Church Triptych Roll of Honour and the Canadian Virtual War Memorial. His name will be displayed in the Canadian Virtual Roll of Honour on the 20th February 2016.

The War Diary entry for the 21st February 1916 records:-
Battalion HQ made in TIGRIS STREET close to DORSET TRENCH. Quiet day. At night General GORRINGES column marched in the direction of MARSH BEND of river west of HANNAH POSITION, whilst the 21st Brigade under General NORRIE which was in Reserve marched north east. At 7.00pm rocket was sent up from the right of our trenches which immediately caused the Turks to open very heavy rifle fire and machine gun fire, also shrapnel and high explosive shells, lasting about one hour. Our casualties, 1 man killed, 1 man wounded. Later on, about 1pm. Lt K.H.PEGG was killed by a rifle bullet. Battalion occupied trench dug the night before, which was now called LEICESTER TRENCH, 500 yards distant from the Turks.