Peter McLeish was the youngest son of James and Edith McLeish. He was born on 1st September 1898 in Benburb, County Tyrone. He was one of two surviving children. His father was a gamekeeper. By 1911, the family had moved to live in Irishtown, Straffan, County Kildare. Private Peter McLeish was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards when he was killed in action near Arras in France on 21st January 21 1918.
Roeux is a village about 8 kilometres east of Arras. Brown's Copse Cemetery is about one kilometre north-west of Roeux on the eastern outskirts of the neighbouring village of Fampoux. It is signposted from Fampoux village.