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A poppy engraved road sign of Leslie Road.
Screen grab from Google Maps
In honour of our soldiers: Thomas Ellis Leslie
Published 10:57 PDT, Fri June 21, 2024
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In a series about Richmond’s poppy street signs, in memory of our fallen soldiers, we share the story of Leslie Road.
Thomas Ellis Leslie was born on March 15, 1890 in Newtownbutler, Ireland to Thomas and Anna Leslie of Drumully, Clones, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.
Some time along his life’s journey, Leslie would find himself working as a lumberman in British Columbia, where he resided in Steveston, according to the 1915 voters list. He was also an active member of the 1913-1914 Richmond lacrosse team. There is speculation that Thomas Ellis Leslie had some connection to the Leslie Lumber Company of Steveston. A Thomas Leslie had been listed as the manager of the Eburne Lumber Company, but that was later confirmed that it was Thomas (Samuel) Leslie, who arrived with his wife Mary, in 1909.
On December 1, 1915, at the age of 25, Thomas Ellis stepped away from his occupation as a lumberman and enlisted in the armed forces in New Westminster. During his application process, he listed is mother has his next of kin, while she was still residing in Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, Ireland. He joined the 121st Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a private, and boarded the Press of Britain on Aug. 14, 1916. The Canadian Expeditionary Force was an overseas army, made up of about 630,000 Canadians between 1914 and 1918 during the First World War. A majority of them were volunteers who took on the roles of soldiers, nurses, doctors, and forestry and railway crews.
Upon arrival to Liverpool, Leslie had been promoted to Acting Lance-Corporal but was stranded in a hospital before being transferred to the 3rd Pioneer battalion.
Four months after arriving in Liverpool, Leslie was transferred to the front lines in France before being transferred again on May 1917 to the 7th Battalion. Nine months later, tragedy would hit the Leslie family, as Thomas Ellis Leslie would be killed in action on Feb. 2, 1918. For his efforts in the war, the Canadian government would send a memorial cross, plaque, and scroll to Anna Leslie, who also happened to be the beneficiary of Leslie, inheriting his real estate and personal belongings.
The City of Richmond would later honour Thomas Ellis Leslie and his efforts in the war by naming a Road after him. Today, Leslie Road, can be found near the heart of Richmond, running perpendicular to No. 3 Road and Garden City Road.
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