Emotional tribute to WW1 hero’s death
In a fortnight’s time it will be precisely 100 years since an Ayr soldier was shot in the field by the Germanfriendly Ottoman hordes.
William Leslie died on the parched plains just outside Gaza in Palestine on November 14, 1917.
His grandson Ian has now inherited treasured family keepsakes from his aunt Nancy and is keen to share them a century on.
Dad- of- three William volunteered to be enlisted as a private in the 1st/ 8th Cameronians, the Scottish Rifles, in 1916.
He had been living at 65 New Road in Ayr and had a tailor’s business at 1 Kirkport.
William was thrust from the world of clothing to behind the sights of a Lewis machine gun.
Iain, now 76, still lives in the town and remains emotional about his grandfather, despite never knowing him.
He said: “My father was only four when he was killed so has few memories.
“It is wonderful to have lots of World War One records which keep his memory alive.
“He sent diary letters as he sailed to France and then going into Egypt
“In fa one letter said ‘ thank goodness we’re are not going to France’ to fight.
“They got the train from Le Havre to Marseille, where they had two days leave before sailing to Malta.
“In Malta they all stripped off and jumped into the sea to bathe.”
William was just 32 when he took a Turkish bullet to the chest during the Second Battle of Gaza.
His widow Libby enjoyed a long life until 1968.
Ian went out to see the boulder- strewn spot where his grandfather died as the British Expeditionary Force pushed into Gaza.
He said: “I also visited the Commonwealth War Grave at Deir al Behah, about eight miles out of Gaza, where he was laid to rest.
“That was in 1980. I was really quite emotional when I saw it.”