John Leslie's Story.
John Elmslie was born in 1896 in Birkenhead, son of Leslie Cruickshank, a ship owner and Catherine Elmslie.
In 1901 John is living at the family home with his parents, a brother and a sister at 51 Bidston Road, Birkenhead. They employed a housemaid, a nurse and a cook.
The family were still at the same address in 1911. John Elmslie was educated at the Leys school, Cambridge. He was a champion swimmer at the school and captain of the football first eleven.
John entered the cotton firm of Thomas Thorburn and Co in July 1914 as an apprentice but just a month later he left to join the army. He enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company (1st Battalion) on the 26th August 1914 and arrived in France with his company on 20th September.
By early March 1915 John was stationed with his battalion near the Belgian town of Kemmel. In the days leading up to his death they were in the trenches. The battalion war diary for the day he died just stated that they were ‘In trenches. Trench parties kept up constant fire on enemy’s damaged wire and parapet during night ….. J L Elmslie No 1 Coy killed’.
A more detailed account of Private Elmslie’s death was given in a letter from an officer in his Company to John’s father. In it he explained that -‘we were ordered in our trench to dig a sap towards the German lines, and a keen and intelligent soldier was needed to carry out the work. Jack was put in charge, and on the first night some real hard work was done. On the second night the Germans were more active, and as he was taking a turn at digging a star shell went up, and the enemy evidently seeing him, fired. A shot hit Jack on the head, killing him immediately, so he had no knowledge of pain.’
Private John Leslie Elmslie, aged 18, was buried at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium. He is commemorated on the Birkenhead War Memorial, and at Trinity with Palm Grove URC and Methodist Church.
Some months later his personal effects were returned to his father…. which included his prayer book. John Elmslie was awarded the Victory and British War Medal and in 1920 his father applied for the 1914 Star medal on behalf of his late son.
War Memorial inside Trinity with Palm Grove Church
Birkenhead News 24 March 1915
BRILLIANT YOUNG BIRKONIAN
Killed in Flanders
The brilliant career of a fine young Birkonian came to an untirely (sic) but heroic end in Flanders on the 9th or 10th of this month. News has been received by Mr. Leslie C. Elmslie J.P., and Mrs Elmslie, of 51, Bidston Road, Oxton, of the death of their younger son John Leslie Elmslie, a private in the Hon. Artillery Company.
Mr. Elmslie, who was in his 19th year, enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company early in August, and had been serving with the first battalion since September last. He had been in the trenches since the end of October. He was educated at the Leys, Cambridge and was the champion swimmer of the school, and captain of the first football eleven. Until he decided to adopt a commercial career he was the best classic scholar at the Leys, and was chosen upon three speech days to make the Greek oration. Mr. Elmslie had been for a period of four years training in the Officers’ Training Corps. He entered the cotton firm of Thomas Thorburn and Co. as an apprentice on July 1st last.
Although the above article states that John died on 9th or 10th March, his service records confirm his death was on the 11th March 1915.
Research, John Elmslie’s photograph and newspaper article by Chris Booth