Peter McLeish was the youngest son of James and Edith McLeish. James was born in Benburb, County Tyrone about 1899. His father was a gamekeeper who was born in County Wicklow. His mother was from County Armagh. By the time of the 1911 census, 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 on killed in action 21st January 21 1918. He was 20 years old.
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.