3600: An Orkney volunteer

online resource

posted on 2024-01-15, 08:31 authored by Lest We Forget Project Team

James Leslie, service service no. 13261, 9th Seaforth Highlanders, born in 1896 and died June 1975.

Leslie was a farm servant in Orkney, which was a protected occupation. The contributor feels that Leslie wanted an adventure, and he joined up on 1st May 1916.

Leslie served at the Somme and took refuge in a shell hole with a friend, who was killed next to him. Leslie was gassed at some stage of the war, and his voice was hoarse for the rest of his life. He was demobbed in 1919.

History

Name of contributor(s)

Alison Leslie

Subject of the story/individual the object(s) relate to

James Leslie

Date(s) the event(s) in the story took place

1916-1919

Location(s) where the event(s) in the story took place

Orkney and France

Object(s)

A postcard with a photograph of the contributor's grandfather, James Leslie. Scanned copies of his discharge certificate; certificate of employment during the war, available.