2nd Lt
Leslie Wallace Ablett
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 09/06/1897 |
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Place of birth: Withington, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 172 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, Greater London, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Clerk |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Second Lieutenant |
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Units: — Northumberland Fusiliers, 11th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 14/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Reutel, Beselare, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XLIX Row: H Grave: 1-8 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Leslie Wallace Ablett was the son of Caroline and John Joseph Ablett. He was born on 9 June 1897 in Withington, Lancashire. Before the war Leslie worked as a clerk and lived in Notting Hill, London. He enlisted in the British army and was as a 2nd Lieutenant part of the 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (68th Brigade, 23rd Division).
Leslie was killed on 14 October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. Two days earlier, his battalion had taken up positions near Reutel, in the right sector of the 68th Brigade's front area. On 13 October, the A Company of the 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers came under heavy shelling. In the early morning of 14 October, the shelling moved to the positions of C Company of the battalion, which Leslie was in charge of. 2nd Lieutenants Leslie Wallace Ablett and Edward Douglas Bruty were killed in the shelling at the ages of 20 and 21 respectively.
Leslie's body was missing for a long time and his name was commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial. In 2018, nine bodies were found during archaeological excavations on Oude Wervikstraat in Beselare, seven of which could be identified. Among them were Leslie Wallace Ablett and Edward Douglas Bruty. Since 2021, both young men have been buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Leslie was killed on 14 October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. Two days earlier, his battalion had taken up positions near Reutel, in the right sector of the 68th Brigade's front area. On 13 October, the A Company of the 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers came under heavy shelling. In the early morning of 14 October, the shelling moved to the positions of C Company of the battalion, which Leslie was in charge of. 2nd Lieutenants Leslie Wallace Ablett and Edward Douglas Bruty were killed in the shelling at the ages of 20 and 21 respectively.
Leslie's body was missing for a long time and his name was commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial. In 2018, nine bodies were found during archaeological excavations on Oude Wervikstraat in Beselare, seven of which could be identified. Among them were Leslie Wallace Ablett and Edward Douglas Bruty. Since 2021, both young men have been buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Sources 5
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11 Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/2182/4). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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68 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2181/6). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Alleyn's World War One Memorial Website https://ww1.alleyns.org.uk/boys-a-1/ablett-lw Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Verdegem, Simon; e.a. 'Vermist in de Ypres Salient. Negen gesneuvelden in de Oude Wervikstraat in Beselare'. (Brussel: Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed, 2023). Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/845630 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=76a346d6-063e-4d6a-aae1-c14fb3ef3177 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7580 |