Ashby L 2nd Lt 5th Lancashire Fusiliers
ASHBY, LESLIE, 2nd Lieut. 2/5th (Territorial) Battn. The Lancashire Fusiliers, only s. of John Ashby, of Underwood, Whaley Bridge, near Stockport, by his wife, Annie, dau. of Richard Bennett; 6. Whaley Bridge aforesaid, 18 Oct. 1898; educ. Silcoates School, Wakefield, and on leaving there joined the staff of the Manchester and County Bank, Stockport, remaining there until March, 1917, when he Joined the Army, and was sent to a Training Reserve Battn. at Rugeley Camp, co. Stafford; was subsequently recommended for a commission, and attached to the 21st Officers” Cadet Battn., Twezledown Camp, Fleet; obtained his commission in June, 1918, being gazetted to the 4th Battn. Lancashire Fusiliers at Barry and Swansea; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 21 Aug, following, when he was attached to the 2/5th Battn. of his regiment in the 55th Division (West Lancashire), and was killed in action during the attack on Tournai 21 Oct. 1918. Buried in Froidmont Communal Cemetery. His Company Commander, Capt. Broadbent, wrote: “We were fighting for Tournai, and had reached a point one and a half miles from its western outskirts, when we were held up by strong enemy resistance for several days. Second Lieut. Ashby’s platoon was farthest forward when we stopped our advance. I was deeply grieved to lose him he was a promising officer, well liked by his men, and I personally looked on him as a younger brother. His unfailing good-nature and sunny disposition endeared him to us all,” and a brother officer: “He had done some excellent work in pushing out the enemy, and got his men into position, then went out to reconnoitre, when he was fired upon by a sniper and hit. He was much loved by all of us, and was always cheerful and bright and never grumbled.” He was very musical, and often acted as pianist in battalion concerts, both at home and in France; unm.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5