Lt
Gordon Franklin Leslie

Information about birth

Date of birth:
26/06/1894
Place of birth:
Erin, Ontario, Canada

General information

Profession:
Teacher

Army information

Country:
Canada
Force:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Lieutenant
Service number:
/
Enlistment date:
30/41/916
Enlistment place:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Units:
 —  Canadian Infantry, 46th Bn. (South Saskatchewan)  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
26/10/1917
Place of death:
Crest Farm, Passchendaele, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
23

Cemetery

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Lt. Gordon Franklin Leslie - a schoolteacher from Edmonton, Alberta – served in the 46th Battalion Canadian Infantry (South Saskatchewan).

On 26 October 1917 his battalion took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele. The 46th Battalion advanced north of the Ypres Roulers Railway. The jumping off line was situated in the line Heine House, Hillside Farm and Ypres Roulers Railway. They consolidated most of their objective under heave enemy shelling. ‘A’ Company’ under command of Lt. Leslie had to clear Decline Copse. The 46th Battalion encountered heavy German resistance. When the attack was checked the South Saskatchewans was driven back by German counterattacks.

Of the 420 men who went into the attack, around 70% became casualties. The war diary mentions that Gordon Franklin Leslie was killed mopping up Decline Copse. The 23-year-old was initially buried south of Crest Farm. After the war his remains were re-interred in the nearby Buttes New British Cemetery.

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