Leslie Stewart's Story.
Birkenhead News 08 January 1916Lieutenant L. S. Cole.
A GLORIOUS END.
Bidston Family’s Sacrifice.
News has just been received that Second-Lieut. Leslie Stewart Cole, of the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment, and eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Cole, The Homestead, Bidston, and Liverpool, died a glorious death, standing at his guns at the Hohenzollern Redoubt on October 8th.
Lieut. Cole volunteered for active service immediately after the outbreak of the war, by applying for a commission. Before, however, receiving a reply from the War Office he had, by personal application to Colonel Logan (since killed in action), obtained a commission in the 3rd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, and was attached to the 2nd Battalion in France. He had previously been appointed adjutant of the signalling section, but on arrival in France he was made machine gun officer. He had been several months in the trenches, and in September last his battalion took part in the Hohenzollern Redoubt, which they held at the time of his death.
Lieut. Cole had exceptional artistic gifts, and took an all-round interest in sport. He held several trophies for athletics and rowing at Uppingham School and Cambridge. He showed great bravery and coolness in action, almost his last act being to tell a private who was slightly wounded to go to a place of safety while he himself continued firing, literally “standing by his guns” until he was killed. He was found by the 1st Scots Guards, and Lieut. T Orr-Ewing was present at his burial. The body was identified by a letter written to his father on the eve of the battle, which was forwarded, along with a touching letter of sympathy, by the Chaplain of the 1st Scots Guards (the Rev W. Phin Gillieson), through the adjutant of the 2nd Cheshire Regiment. The adjutant (Capt. N. R. Freeman) refers in sympathetic terms to the high regard in which Lieut. Cole was held by men and officers alike.
Lieut. Cole was an example of the fine spirit of the public-school man, and no more noble instance of heroism can be recorded than that which prompted him to give his service to the country. The “Gallant Cheshires” had suffered heavy losses in the battle of Mons, and officers were urgently needed for the front. Although he had no previous military experience he joined the regiment with the knowledge that he might have to leave for active service soon after joining. That he had military training before leaving takes nothing from the honour which his bravery and that of similar young soldiers so richly deserve.
Leslie Stewart Cole is remembered on his family grave in St. Oswald's churchyard, Bidston.
Leslie Cole is also remembered on the First World War memorial inside St' Oswald's Church, Bidston.
Leslie Cole’s photograph, family grave photograph, St. Oswald’s war memorial, and newspaper article by Chris Booth