Leslie's Story.
Leslie was the youngest of four brothers and all had been born in Eccles. Their parents were Harry Butler, a salesman, and Catherine Butler. He went to school in nearby Monton and won a scholarship to Salford Royal Technical School (later Salford University). He then went to work for Tullock Ltd in Manchester. Only a few years before the Great War, the family had moved to Bramhall and taken up residence at "Ashbourne" on Ack Lane. Leslie had become a keen cricketer by this time and played for the Bramhall Club. Recruitment for the 20th Battalion - the fifth of the "Pals" battalions raised by the Manchester Regiment - started at the beginning of November 1914 and Leslie was amongst the first to enlist. He was assigned to No. 4 Platoon in "A" Company. He went overseas with the Battalion a year later and was one of its specialist snipers. He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
