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Major Lesley Peach Aizlewood MC. AFC.
Major Lesley Peach Aizlewood MC. AFC.
Rank: Major
Date of Death: 29/09/1918
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force 2nd Flying Training School
Awards: MC, AFC
Grave Reference: Cemetery: MARSKE-IN-CLEVELAND (ST. GERMAIN) CHURCHYARD Yorkshire
Additional Information: Son of Albert Percy Aizlewood and Florence Shaw Aizlewood, of Blenheim House, Doncaster Rd., Rotherham.
Leslie Peech Aizlewood was the only child of Albert Percy Aizlewood and his wife Florence (nee Peech). He was educated at Uppingham School in Rutland. He attended Sheffield University Applied Science department under Professor Ripper, whilst apprenticed in mechanical and electrical engineering at Parkgate Iron and Steel works. On his seventeenth birthday he joined the 5th Batt. Yorks. and Lancaster Regiment, a territorial unit, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant.
After the outbreak of WW1 Leslie was promoted to Lieutenant, in April 1915 he went with the battalion to France but was wounded in July and invalided home to recuperate. Subsequently, he joined the Royal Flying Corps in January 1916, qualifying as a pilot in March 1916 after flying training in Norwich. He was appointed Flying Officer in May 1916 with the rank of temporary Captain and returned to France in July 1916. Lt. (temp. Capt.) Leslie Peech Aizlewood, 32 Squadron RFC
Awarded the MC (Military Cross) for conspicuous gallantry and skill in 1916... Seeing five hostile machines, he manoeuvred to get between them and their lines; then, diving on one of them, he reserved his fire till he was only twenty yards off. The hostile machine fell out of control, but he was so close to it that he collided with it, breaking his propeller and damaging his machine. Though it was barely controllable, he managed to get back to our lines.
In February 1917 Leslie was wounded again having been shot down by the renowned German ace Werner Voss
He was posted to HQ Northern Group at the end of March as a Flying Instructor. The Group undertook a review of aerial tactics, with a greater emphasis on gunnery skills and Leslie organised the setting up of new training schools. He was appointed to No. l School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery at Turnberry, Ayr as Chief Instructor with the rank of temporary Major in October 1917, promoted to Squadron Commander on 1 January 1918. In March 1918 Leslie was 'Mentioned in Dispatches' for 'valuable services', related to his work on flying schools and pilot training. Subsequently Leslie was appointed to No.2 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery at Marske Near Redcar, North Yorkshire on 27 April 1918 as Commanding Officer.
For more information about the school, the planes and the men who served there a book was written, "From Biggles to the Red Baron — an illustrated history of Marske Aerodrome" written by John H Watson and published by Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar and can be found here at Abe Books...
Whilst flying a training flight from Marske on 29 September 1918 Leslie was killed instantly in a flying accident, plunging into the sea from 1000 feet.
He was buried in St Germains Churchyard, Marske with full military honours on 23 October 1918. His stone is engraved with the saying "One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name".
Leslie was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross on 1 January 1919.
Findings from a board of enquiry convened later established that, 'The aircraft spun out of control after the flying controls were obstructed due to entanglement with the Pilots clothing'.
Subsequent to Leslie's death, his father Alderman Albert Percy Aizlewood commissioned the war memorial in the parish church, All Saints, Rotherham, in memory of his son and the 1140 men of Rotherham who died in the war.
Reference - Rotherham FHS journal 'A Bridge In Time' Volume 11 Number 2. June 2011 - Major Leslie Peech Aizlewood MC AFC MiD by Vivien and Alan Aizlewood
Leslie Peach Aizlewood MF AFC lies in the pretty churchyard of St Germains, Marske By The Sea, Yorkkshire, England. His grave marker was erected by his parents and sits in this churchyard atop the cliffs overlooking the Tees Bay...
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