Pte 15675 Leslie Muir

• Age: 30
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Zantvoorde Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: III.J.19

Leslie Muir was born 24th January 1887 in Wavertree, Liverpool and was baptised on the 23rd March 1887 at Our Lady and St Nicholas, Church Of England, Liverpool. He was the son of James Alexander and Eliza Muir (nee Shaw), of Birch House, Green Lane, Allerton, Liverpool, who had married in 1876 at Liverpool Register Office. Prior to the outbreak of the war he had been employed as a Stockbroker.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at "Roseville", 100, Salisbury Rd, Wavertree, Liverpool.

His father James A. is aged 38, a book keeper, whilst his wife Eliza is aged 37. They have six children, Jessie G. aged 13, Edith aged 12, Margaret E. aged 9, James A. aged 7, George H. aged 5, and Leslie aged 4. Also staying is Eliza's sister Barbara Shaw aged 24, a school mistress.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 19, Bagot Street, Wavertree, Liverpool.

His father James Alexander is aged 50, born 1851 in Liverpool and his occupation is a stockbroker, whilst his wife Eliza is aged 47, born 1854 in Liverpool with no occupation listed. They have six children living with them, all born in Liverpool.  Jessie aged 23, born 1878 an assistant school mistress, Edith aged 22, born 1879 and Margaret aged 19, born 1882 are both school teachers, George aged 15, born 1886, Leslie aged 14, born 1887 and Dorothy aged 4, born 1897. They also have a servant Mary Gillespie aged 23, born 1878 in India. 

Liverpool Daily Post 4th July 1901

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Mr James Alexander Muir has been admitted a partner with Mr James Thompson, stock and share broker, 17 Sweeting Street, Liverpool, and the business in future will be conducted under the style of Thompson and Muir.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Birch House, Green Lane Wavertree, Liverpool.

His father James Alexander is still employed as a stockbroker, and his wife Eliza is aged 57 with no occupation listed. They have been married for thirty four years and have had seven children of which one had died. They have the six children still living at the address with them, Jessie aged 33, is a school mistress, Edith aged 32, has no occupation listed, Margaret aged 29, is a school mistress, George aged 25, is a shipping clerk, Leslie aged 24,is a stockbroker’s clerk and  born 1887 and Dorothy aged 14 is a student. 

Leslie enlisted on the 02nd September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool, joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15675. He gave his age as 27 years and 221 days and his occupation as a stockbroker. He was five foot nine and half inches tall and weighed 129lbs. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. His service records show he had served with the 10^th Liverpool Scottish up to 8th April, 1912 when his time expired. His father James was his next of kin.

Leslie was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

On the 02nd September 1916 obtained 1^st Good conduct Badge on completion of two years service which he received 30^th September 1916.

15th-24^th January 1917- Leave to the UK 

He was killed in action aged 30 during the Third Battle of Ypres. His service record states "Death accepted for Official purposes as having occurred on or after 31-7-17 / 4-8-17"

17^th Battalion Diary

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.     

Leslie now rests at Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Belgium.

Zantvoorde British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields and nearby German cemeteries. Many were those of soldiers who died in the desperate fighting round Zantvoorde, Zillebeke and Gheluvelt in the latter part of October 1914.

There are now 1,583 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 1,135 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate 32 soldiers buried in two of the German cemeteries whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery also contains one Second World War burial.The Household Cavalry Memorial, unveiled by Lord Haig in May 1924, stands on the South side of the village at the place where part of the Brigade was annihilated in 1914.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden. 

Soldiers Effects to father James A., Pension to sister Edith.

Probate:-

MUIR Leslie of Birch House, Green Lane, Wavertree Liverpool stockbroker Private 17th Battalion K.L.R. died 31 July 1917 in France Administration Liverpool 14 June to James Alexander Muir stock and share broker. Effects £230 1s 3d.

Liverpool Echo 31st May 1928

Mr James Alexander Muir of Wavertree, Liverpool, stockbroker, left £12,646 (net personality £11,405). He left £100 to Alfred Aspinall; £50 to John Thomas, clerk.

The father James Alexander died aged 77 in 1928 and the mother Eliza died aged 85 in 1938.

We currently have no further information on Leslie Muir, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.