Leslie Edward Stone was born in Everton on 20th February 1893 the son of Frederick Robert Stone and his wife Sarah Jane (née Evans). His father, from Gloucestershire, and his mother, born in Liverpool, married in Liverpool in 1884 and had eight children. Leslie had older siblings Edith Florence, born in 1885, Frederick William 1886, Mabel Lilian 1888, Arthur Robert 1889 (died at age 1), and Gladys Evelyn 1891, and younger sisters Sara Louise 1894 and Ethel Victoria 1897.
He was baptised in St. Chad's Church, Everton, on 26th March 1893, his parents’ residence listed as 22 Sherlock Street, and his father’s occupation as Board of Trade Officer.
In 1901 the family, with seven children, is living at 22 Sherlock Street, Everton. His father is a Board of Trade Officer, Marine Dept. His brother Frederick, 14, is a Board of Trade messenger, and Leslie is 8.
By 1911 they have moved to Bootle and are at 135 Bedford Road. His parents are both 51, his father is an outdoor officer with the Board of Trade Marine Dept. Edith, 26, is a milliner, Mabel 23, is a jeweller’s book keeper, Gladys is 19, a draper’s assistant. Leslie is 18, working as a junior clerk (provisions), Sara, 16, is an apprentice in a music(?) warehouse, and Ethel, 13, is at school. His brother Frederick, now a Board of Trade Officer, like his father, is working in Cardiff.
Leslie enlisted in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, as Private 17477 and was initially posted to the 22nd (Reserve) Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 21 years and 109 days, and his occupation as clerk. He is described as being 5’ 2 and three-eighths inches tall, weighing 118 lbs, with a sallow complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He gives as next of kin his father Frederick at 15 University Road, Bootle.
Leslie was transferred to the 19th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment on 05th October 1915 and shipped to France with the battalion from Folkestone, disembarking at Boulogne on 7th November 1915. His service record survives and shows -
On 20th May 1916 Leslie was deprived of 4 days’ pay for being in café during prohibited hours. Shortly afterwards the battalion move to Abbeville for training for “the Big Push” and on 01st July the Battle of the Somme begins and the Pals battalions see their deadliest day of the war at Guillemont on the 30th. The Battle of the Somme finally comes to an end in November.
The Pals battalions move to Arras in February 1917 and the 19th Bn is engaged in the opening assault of the Battle of Arras in April, and in May they begin the march north to the Ypres Salient. The 19th is in the front line at Hooge during the Battle of Messines and repulse several German counter-attacks.
The Third Battle of Ypres (also known as Passchendaele) begins on 31st July and comes to an end in November.
14/8/1917 granted leave to the U.K.
28/8/1917 returned from leave
The Pals are back in the front line for the New Year and soon leave the Salient and move south to cover an area vacated by the French near St. Quentin.
19/2/1918 sick, to 97th Field Ambulance
20/2/1918 to No.30 Dressing Station, fever of unknown origin
28/2/1918 rejoined unit in the field
The German Spring Offensive, known as Operation Michael, begins on 21st March 1918. The 19th, defending the position at Roupy, is forced back, the survivors retiring to Ham. The line is forced to retreat in the face of the continuing German onslaught, and on 24th March Leslie is wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. He is admitted to No.2 Stationary Hospital, Abbeville, and after treatment for his wounds is sent on 19/4/1918 to Infantry Base Depot, Etaples. He rejoins his unit on 24/4/1918, by which time the Pals are back in the Ypres Salient. The Germans unleash another powerful assault on 29th April, on the Scherpenberg. Most of the outpost positions along the front fall quickly, but eventually the attack is repulsed and the line stands firm.
On 5th May the battalion moves off towards dusk in rear of the line Ridge Wood to Klein Vierstraat with orders to counter attack or reinforce the front line system if necessary.
Leslie was killed in action on 06th May 1918 and was buried near to where he fell. After the war, in October 1919, his grave was found marked with a cross, his body was removed, and reinterred in La Clytte Military Cemetery, where he now rests.
The first burial in the cemetery took place on the 01st November 1914, and between that date and April 1918, Plots I, II and III and part of Plot IV were filled. The hamlet of La Clytte was used as Brigade Headquarters, and the burials were carried out by Infantry, Artillery and Engineer units (out of 600, 250 are those of Artillery personnel and 66 are those of Engineers).
After the Armistice Plot IV was completed, and Plots V and VI formed by the concentration of isolated graves and small graveyards from the area round Reninghelst, Dickebusch, Locre and Kemmel.
There are now 1,082 casualties of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 238 of the burials are unidentified and one of the graves, brought in from LEICESTER CAMP CEMETERY (a group of 17 graves on the road to Reninghelst), is marked with the names of two men between whom the identification rests. Other special memorials commemorate casualties known to have been buried in the cemetery, but whose graves could not be located.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Leslie’s name appeared in the list of K.L.R. Wounded published in the
Liverpool Daily Post on 16th May 1918, by which time he had recovered from his wounds, rejoined his unit, and been killed in action.
His death was announced in the
Liverpool Echo on 25th May 1918 under the header;
BOOTLE 'PAL' KILLED
Private Leslie Stone, son of Mr and Mrs F. Stone of 15 University Road, Bootle, killed in action, was well known in athletic circles and as a vocalist. Wounded in the German push in April, he had just returned to his regiment, the King's, when he was killed. Letters from officers described him as doing much by his singing to cheer many a heavy heart.
He is also commemorated on the Memorial at Christ Church, Bootle.
He earned his three medals, which his mother signed for. His father Frederick received his son’s Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £17-10s.
The pension card shows two claimants for a dependant’s pension: his mother Sarah Jane, 15 University Road, Bootle and Ethel Hughes, as guardian for illegitimate child Doris Hayes, 2 Nant Terrace, Menai Bridge, Anglesey. The card notes a later transfer of guardianship to Mrs. Ann Hughes, 2 Nant Terrace, and later at “Manor”, Sychnant Road, Conway.
At 2 Nant Terrace in 1911 were the Hughes family, Benjamin and Ann with four sons, John, Hugh, William, and Benjamin, who all served during the war (per 1916 newspaper article). Hugh married Ethel Hayes in 1916. It is possible that Ethel was the mother of Doris Hayes, fathered by Leslie Stone, who later lived with her grandmother Ann Hughes. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to ascertain what became of his daughter Doris.
In 1919 his father provided information on Leslie’s living relatives: His five sisters Edith, 34, Mabel 30, Gladys 28, Sara 24, and Ethel 22, were living at home at 15 University Road. His brother Frederick, 32, was with the army of occupation.
Frederick enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in December 1915, and transferred to the Tank Corps in 1918. He was posted to the Rhine Army in May 1919 and was demobbed in October that year.
His father died in 1927, aged 67.
In 1939 his mother was still living at 15 University Road, with son Frederick working for the Board of Trade, as an outdoor inspector. His mother lived through the Second World War, and died in 1952, aged 92.
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