Len was born on the 29th June 1909 in Cato St, Duddeston, Birmingham. He was the 6th of eight children born to Enoch and Louise Ames.
By the time he was twenty in 1929, he had married Nancy Andrews at St Saviours Church, Saltley. Nancy was also born in Nechells, she was the daughter of John & Fanny Andrews.
England was now at war with Germany so in 1940 Len enlisted with the R.A.O.C as a chef for the duration of the war.
Difficult to imagine the misery pain and fear that Len and his comrades went through as they fought on the beaches of Dunkirk. They watched in horror as thousands of men fell at their feet. Worst still Leonard swam out to sea injured with big burn holes in his back, desperately hoping to find a boat or some flotsam to hold onto. At the same time pushing his way through a sea of dead men, some his mates. On the 17th of June 1940, he was one of the last out of Dunkirk.
Along with his comrades, he was at last able to scramble aboard The SS Lancastria, only to be thrown off again as the ship was hopelessly overcrowded. Len watched completely powerless from a distance, in horror as The Lancastria received three direct hits from a German Junkers 88 bomber. Within 15 minutes it had sunk. The souls on board the Lancastria sang with courage although they knew they were within minutes of death they raised their voices in song and sang ‘Roll out the Barrel’, as the end drew nearer, they broke into ‘There’ll Always Be An England’. Closer to the ship’s stern, another group, their voices clear and unwavering sang, ‘God Be with You Till We Meet Again’. It is estimated that 4,800 troops lost their lives not including civilian passengers.
Len came home a very different man both physically and mentally. When the war ended he was AWOL a couple of times for which he served time in Burleigh Gaol in Glasgow, where he said he suffered mental cruelty. The army sent Len to Geithals Camp in Iceland to prevent him deserting again. He referred to it as one of the loneliest outposts in the world.
Whilst in the army he also learned the trade of a cobbler. One of Lens many talents was Gold leaf frame work, he also enjoyed doing sign work, along with his talent for poaching which he often did with his brother Arthur on Saturday nights in Coleshill or Castle Bromwich, making sure his family had a Sunday dinner. He has been known to sneak into granny Ames’s backyard and steal the eggs from under the hens. He loved gardening and had two allotments one at Cottrell’s lane and the other at Bordesley Green. Len had skin cancer later in life and received treatment over a long period of time at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead. He had a lung removed but eventually died of lung cancer. At 17 minutes past nine at night on 24th February 1981.
His last words to his son John Were, “I’ve done the best I can for you son, can’t do anymore”. He then slipped away at 9.20pm. Len was cremated and his ashes buried together with his wife Nancy’s ashes in Fanny Andrews grave at Witton Cemetery, Birmingham. He was a great father & grandfather and was very much respected by all who knew him.
By the time he was twenty in 1929, he had married Nancy Andrews at St Saviours Church, Saltley. Nancy was also born in Nechells, she was the daughter of John & Fanny Andrews. 
Difficult to imagine the misery pain and fear that Len and his comrades went through as they fought on the beaches of Dunkirk. They watched in horror as thousands of men fell at their feet. Worst still Leonard swam out to sea injured with big burn holes in his back, desperately hoping to find a boat or some flotsam to hold onto. At the same time pushing his way through a sea of dead men, some his mates. On the 17th of June 1940, he was one of the last out of Dunkirk. 
Along with his comrades, he was at last able to scramble aboard The SS Lancastria, only to be thrown off again as the ship was hopelessly overcrowded. Len watched completely powerless from a distance, in horror as The Lancastria received three direct hits from a German Junkers 88 bomber. Within 15 minutes it had sunk. The souls on board the Lancastria sang with courage although they knew they were within minutes of death they raised their voices in song and sang ‘Roll out the Barrel’, as the end drew nearer, they broke into ‘There’ll Always Be An England’. Closer to the ship’s stern, another group, their voices clear and unwavering sang, ‘God Be with You Till We Meet Again’. It is estimated that 4,800 troops lost their lives not including civilian passengers. 
Len came home a very different man both physically and mentally. When the war ended he was AWOL a couple of times for which he served time in Burleigh Gaol in Glasgow, where he said he suffered mental cruelty. The army sent Len to Geithals Camp in Iceland to prevent him deserting again. He referred to it as one of the loneliest outposts in the world.
Whilst in the army he also learned the trade of a cobbler. One of Lens many talents was Gold leaf frame work, he also enjoyed doing sign work, along with his talent for poaching which he often did with his brother Arthur on Saturday nights in Coleshill or Castle Bromwich, making sure his family had a Sunday dinner. He has been known to sneak into granny Ames’s backyard and steal the eggs from under the hens. He loved gardening and had two allotments one at Cottrell’s lane and the other at Bordesley Green. Len had skin cancer later in life and received treatment over a long period of time at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead. He had a lung removed but eventually died of lung cancer. At 17 minutes past nine at night on 24th February 1981. 
His last words to his son John Were, “I’ve done the best I can for you son, can’t do anymore”. He then slipped away at 9.20pm. Len was cremated and his ashes buried together with his wife Nancy’s ashes in Fanny Andrews grave at Witton Cemetery, Birmingham. He was a great father & grandfather and was very much respected by all who knew him. 