Private Robert Holmes Leslie

Killed in Action in WW1

Date of Death:

Service Biography

Private Robert Holmes Leslie was the son of William and Margaret Leslie, of Huntingdon. He enlisted in February, 1916, while working in western Canada, and served with the Labour Corps, which was primarily responsible for building and repairing the railway system. The railway was crucial to the Allied Forces, both in providing supplies to the front and for removing the wounded to the hospitals on the coast. On the first of September, 1917, Private Leslie was killed by enemy shellfire while working on the railway system on the Belgium/France border, near the Yser Canal which connects the Belgium coast with the town of Ypres. One of the older men from the area that fought in the war, Private Leslie was 43 years old.

General Information

Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
904157
Cause of Death (in war):
Killed in Action
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Labour Corps
Battalion:
1st Labour Battalion
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Huntingdon, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
41 years 11 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
43 years 5 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
43 years 5 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Farmer
Next of Kin:
Margaret Leslie, 96 Webster St., Hartford, Connecticut
Address at Enlistment:
North Star Rooming House, Edmonton, Alberta
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Edmonton, Alberta
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 11.0 in / 180 cm
Weight:
158 lbs / 72 kg
Chest:
38.0 in / 97 cm
Expansion:
2.0 in / 5 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Died in Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
555 days in service
Buried at:
Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW1 Private Canadian Labour Corps Army 1st Labour Battalion
WW1 Private Canadian Infantry Army 194th Battalion

Notes

Robert Holmes Leslie was the son of the late William and Margaret Leslie, of Huntingdon, Co. Quebec. He enlisted while working in western Canada, and served with the Labour Corps, which was primarilty responsible for building and repairing the railway system. The railway was crucial to the Allied Forces, both in providing supplies to the front and for removing the wounded to the hospitals on the coast. On the first of September, 1917, Private Leslie was killed by enemy shellfire while working on the railway system on the Belgium/France border, near the Yser Canal which connects the Belgium coast with the town of Ypres

Additional Service Notes

Embarked Canada 14 Nov 1916 Arrived England 21 Nov 1916 SS Olympic
Disembark Havre, France 11 Jan 1917