Unlike the Protestant cemetery, which has been so well researched and catalogued by both Patricia Lim and Christine M. Thomas, St Michael’s Catholic Cemetery still awaits similar documentation available online. Space is at a premium in St Michael’s and it is often difficult to pick one’s way between the graves in order to read the inscriptions.
During my recent haphazard search for graves there, which carry the imprint CEW & Co. from the workshop of my grandfather’s company, C.E. Warren & Co., I found this one from 1916 before it was registered as a limited company in 1918. It is near my grandfather’s own 1923 grave, but has a much taller cross.
Joseph and Caroline Leonard appear in Patricia O’Sullivan’s book Policing Hong Kong. Joseph was in the police for a while and the father-in-law of Thomas O’Sullivan. His wife, Caroline, lived to the great age of 97. Policing Hong Kong has more about them. The inscriptions read as follows:
In loving memory of Joseph Leonard born on 10th December 1868 in the County of Wicklow, Ireland and departed this life on the 20th September 1916.
“One of Nature’s gentlemen”
In loving memory of Caroline Leonard born 1st August 1876, died 16th December, 1973.
“In all her ways loving and kind,
A beautiful memory left behind.”