Leslie's Story.
Birkenhead News 18 April 1918
WELL-KNOWN ATHLETE
Killed in Action
The news that Corporal Leslie Kirk, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. A Kirk of 50, Argyle Street South, Birkenhead, was killed by a machine gun bullet, in France, on March 28th, will cause much regret, particularly in local junior football circles, where he had been regarded, during the past six or seven years, as one of the smartest goalkeepers in the district.
The news of his death was broken to his parents by a letter, written to the deceased’s sister, by a chum who afterwards wrote the following :- “I hardly know how to commence a letter to you. This week has been the blackest I have experienced, and the worst job of all was to write to break the awful news. ‘Les’ was hit in the head and died immediately. I know you will be comforted to know that he did not suffer. I was close to him, just a yard or two away, and I said a prayer over him when I laid him to rest. He knew no fears and was the most cheery and buoyant of the whole lot. All the boys of the Battery feel his loss greatly and wish me to send their sympathy.” The late soldier’s Captain has sent a most sympathetically worded letter.
Pte. Kirk was educated at the Woodlands Council School, and on leaving there, entered the service of the Birkenhead Education Committee. In addition to his prowess as footballer he was an accomplished gymnast and sprinter. He was connected with the gymnasiums at Brassey Street Institute and St. Paul’s, Argyle Street, and was the proud possessor of two medals he won. As a footballer he played for Birkenhead St. Peter’s and Birkenhead Parish Church. It was while camping at Moreton during the summer that he won several prizes as a sprinter.
He enlisted in the K.L.R. on November 5th, 1914, and went out to France in November, 1915.
The sympathy of a very large circle of his friends will go out to his parents in this time of their great sorrow.