Pte 15097 Leslie Tom West

• Age: 23
• From: Egremont Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Ypres Reservoir Cem
  Panel Ref: VI.D.47

Leslie Tom West was born in 1894 in Egremont, Cheshire and resided in Liverpool and was the son of Joseph and Mary Jane West (nee Morgan), of 15 Allerton Rd, Mossley Hill, Liverpool, who were married in June 1872 in Swansea. He was the youngest son of Mr Joseph West of Messrs: Simon Jude and West, Chartered Accountants. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute and Liverpool College. He became attached to the O.T.C. After leaving school he became a member of Sefton Park Cricket Club.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 17 Catharine Street, Liverpool.

His father, Joseph, is aged 44, born 1857 in Abram, Lancashire, his occupation is a Chartered Accountant, whilst his mother, Mary Jane, is aged 44, born 1857 in Plymouth has no occupation listed. They have been married for nineteen years and have had six children, all of whom are at home at the time of the Census. Gordon Dudley aged 18, born 1883 is an articled clerk (accountant), Violet aged 15 born 1885, Frank Joseph aged 14, born 1887, Norah aged 12, born 1889 were born in Liverpool, Norman Ernest Harold aged 9, born 1892 and Leslie Tom aged 6, born 1895 were born in Liscard. They also have two servants Mary Allwell aged 26, born 1875 is a domestic cook and Annie Welsh aged 23, born 1878 is a domestic housemaid and both were born in Ireland.  

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 115 Bedford Street, Liverpool.

His father Joseph is now aged 54, and still working as a Chartered Accountant and wife Mary Jane is aged 54, again no occupation shown. They have been married now for twenty nine years, the children listed at home are; Gordon aged 28, is an accountants clerk, Violet aged 25, Frank aged 24, is a motor mechanic, Norman aged 19, is a cotton clerk and Leslie aged 16 is still at school. They also have two servants Frances Stratton aged 28, born 1883 is a domestic cook and Clara Powell aged 27, born 1884 is a domestic housemaid and both were born in Liverpool.

Leslie enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 15097.

He 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.

He was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 aged 23 on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele.  He was attached to a Signalling section, had been promoted to Lance-Corporal and had been recommended for a Military Medal. He was offered a commission but preferred to remain in the ranks with his friends.

Passchendaele 31^st July 1917

17^th Battalion

He was killed in action on 31st July 1917 on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

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.      

His officer wrote to his father:

“He is a big loss to us all. His cheerfulness through all sorts of conditions and circumstances made him a general favourite wherever he went.”

The chaplain refers to him as: “A splendid, brave, and fearless lad, cheery and chatty.”   

He now rests at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. The Inscription on his headstone reads:

“TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE”

The cemetery was at first called the "Cemetery North of the Prison," later "Ypres Reservoir North Cemetery”, and now Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.  It was begun in October 1915 and used by fighting units and field ambulances until after the Armistice, when it contained 1,099 graves. The cemetery was later enlarged when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the salient and smaller burial grounds.  There are now 2,613 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 1,034 of whom are unidentified. Six of the identified burials are Liverpool Pals.

Leslie is also commemorated on the Family headstone at Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool, as well as the following Memorials:

Liverpool Institute now situated at L.I.P.A. 

Liverpool College, Sefton Park

Liverpool Collegiate School, Everton.

Liverpool Echo 14th August 1917

WEST - July 31, killed in action in his 24th year, Lance-corpl. Leslie Tom West (Signal Section K.L.R.), youngest beloved son of Mr and Mrs Joseph West, 15 Allerton Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool.

Liverpool Daily Post 15th August 1917 and Liverpool Echo 16th August 1917

A SEFTON PARK CRICKETER

Leslie Tom West, of The King's (Liverpool Regiment), youngest son of Mr. Joseph West, of the firm Messrs. Simon Jude West, chartered accountants, Liverpool, has been killed at the front. He was in his 24th year. His education was received at Liverpool Institute and the Liverpool College. He became attached to the O.T.C. After leaving school be became a member of the Sefton Park Cricket Club. He was one the first to join the "Pals." After training in this country he went to France in the autumn of 1915, and was attached to a signalling section. He was promoted to be a lance-corporal, and recently recommended for the Military Medal. He was offered a commission, but preferred to remain with his friends in the ranks. On July 31 he was killed in the great attack. In a letter to Mr Joseph West, his officer wrote: "He is a big loss to us all. His cheerfulness through all sorts of conditions and circumstances made him a general favourite wherever he went." The chaplain refers to him "A splendid, brave, and fearless lad, cheery and chatty."

Reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 18th Sept 1917

Wigan Observer 18th August 1917

DECEASED NON-COM WHO REFUSED A COMMISSION 

Leslie Tom West, of The King's (Liverpool Regiment), youngest son of Mr. Joseph West, of the firm Messrs. Simon Jude West, chartered accountants, Liverpool, has been killed at the front. He was in his 24th year. His education was received at Liverpool Institute and the Liverpool College. He became attached to the O.T.C. After leaving school be became a member of the Sefton Park Cricket Club. He was one the first to join the "Pals." After training in this country he went to France in the autumn of 1915, and was attached to a signalling section. He was promoted to be a lance-corporal, and recently recommended for the Military Medal. He was offered a commission, but preferred to remain with his friends in the ranks. On July 31 he was killed in the great attack. Mr Joseph West is a native of Ince, and has many friends in this district.

Reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 18th Sept 1917

King's (Liverpool Regt.) - West, 15097, L-Cpl L.T. (Liverpool);

Soldiers Effects to father Joseph, no Pension record found.

Mother died shortly after the 1921 census aged 65 and father died aged 76 in 1933.

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