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.
Further Information
Peter McLeish was the youngest surviving son of James and Edith McLeish. James McLeish and Edith Collins were married on 6th June 1894 in the district of Armagh.
Peter McLeish was born on 1st September 1898 in Benburb, County Tyrone. He was one of four children, two surviving.
Family: James McLeish, Edith F E McLeish, James McLeish (born 14th September 1895), Unnamed son (born 18th July 1897, died 26th July 1897), Peter McLeish (born 1st September 1898), Unnamed daughter (born 9th March 1900, died 9th March 1900).
The 1901 census lists Peter as age 2 living with the family at house 1 in Carrowcolman, Benburb, Tyrone. His father, James McLeish, 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. It lists Peter as age 12 and still at school. His father worked as a gamekeeper.
Private McLeish was reported wounded on 11th August 1917 and was admitted to hospital in Colchester, England.
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.
Private Peter McLeish is buried in Brown’s Copse Cemetery in Roeux, France. His inscription reads: UNTIL THE DAY DAWN AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY
The CWGC record Private Peter McLeish as the son of James and Edith McLeish of Irishtown, Straffan, County Kildare.
