8th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment (British Army)
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
22
Summary
Leslie Montrose Ekin and James Ekin were the sons of Mr. James Ekin and Mrs. Josephine Alice Ekin of De Walden Court, Eastbourne London. He joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. and received his commission in December 1914. He was attached as a machine gun officer to the York and Lancaster Regiment. On 1st July 1916 as the two brothers led their men across ‘No Man’s Land’ and, though seriously wounded, Leslie managed to hold his line of advance with his machine gun team, then taking control of the gun himself before he was cut down. For his bravery he was awarded the Military Cross. Today the two boys lie less than a mile apart in France. Leslie was 22 years of age.
Further Information
Leslie Montrose Ekin was the eldest son of James and Josephine Ekin. Leslie was born in 1893 in Newtown, Sydney, Australia.
His father, James Ekin, had worked for many years in the Belfast Bank in Cookstown and Dungannon before emigrating to Australia.
Family: James Ekin, Josephine Alice Ekin, Kathleen Ekin (born 1889, Sydney), Leslie Montrose Ekin (born 1893, Sydney), James Ekin (born 1897, Sydney), William John Ekin (born 1899, Sydney), Sydney Montrose Ekin (born 1910, London).
Leslie was educated at Sydney Grammar School.
By 1910 the family had returned from Australia and were living in London.
The 1911 British census records that Leslie was a 17-year-old student was living with the family at 5 Redcliffe Square, South Kensington. James Ekin, 57, was a retired property owner from County Tyrone, Ireland. James’ mother, Alice, 43, was from London.
Leslie was studying Law and was a member of the Middle Temple and was going to Oxford University when war broke out.
Leslie Montrose Ekin joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps (O.T.C.) and received his commission in December 1914.
2nd Lieutenant Leslie Montrose Ekin was attached as a machine gun officer to the York and Lancaster Regiment. On 1st July 1916 as the two brothers led their men across ‘No Man’s Land’ and, though seriously wounded, Leslie managed to hold his line of advance with his machine gun team, then taking control of the gun himself before he was cut down. For his bravery he was awarded the Military Cross.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 28 September 1916:
Second Lieutenant Leslie Montrose Ekin, York and Lancaster Regiment, killed in action, was a son of Mr James Ekin, formerly of the Belfast Bank, Dungannon and Cookstown.
His younger brother James had been reported missing on 1st July 1916 and his body was found later.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916: Second Lieutenant Leslie Montrose Ekin, M.C.
Machine Gun Officer of the York and Lancaster Regiment, killed 1st July. Lieutenant Ekin was one of three soldier sons of Mr and Mrs James Ekin, of London. His father may have been remembered as been in the Belfast Bank, both in the Cookstown and Dungannon branches, in the seventies. The deceased officer was a nephew of Messrs W and J Ekin, of Ballymoile, and of Mrs Sandford, Moneymore, and he is a cousin of Mr Hugh Thompson, C. Clr., and Mrs Ekin, Belfast Bank House, Cookstown. He was just 22 years of age. Educated at Sydney Grammar School, he came to England with his parents and had selected law as a profession. He was a member of the Middle Temple and was going to Oxford when the war broke out. He joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. immediately and got his commission in December 1914. For bravery on the field he was awarded the Military Cross, but was killed before he could receive it. His younger brother, of the same battalion, was reported missing since 1st July and has not been heard of since. Their commanding officer, writing to their father says:-
‘Your two sons led their men across No Man’s Land with the utmost gallantry and with the rest of the battalion, earned undying fame.’
The following Citation in reference to Leslie Ekin’s Military Cross was published in the London Gazette on 22nd September 1916:
"For conspicuous gallantry as Officer in command of a Lewis gun team. He led his men across the open under heavy machine gun and shell fire, in which they all became casualties and he himself wounded. Not withstanding, he took the gun forward alone, and continued to serve it until it was knocked out of action and he was seriously wounded again."
Today the two brothers lie less than a mile apart in France. Leslie Montrose Ekin is buried at Blighty Valley Cemetery.
Leslie Montrose Ekin is commemorated on the Old Manorians Memorial in Clapham, London.
The local Cookstown newspaper reports that they were the nephews of Messrs. W and J Ekin of Ballymoyle, Coagh, and Mrs Sanford, Moneymore, and were cousins of Mr Hugh Thompson, a Cookstown councillor.
The CWGC record 2nd Lieutenant Leslie Montrose Ekin M.C. as the son of James and Josephine Alice Ekin of De Walden Court, Meads, Eastbourne. He is also recorded as being a native of Australia.
Second Lieutenant Leslie Ekin’s youngest brother, Sidney Ekin, was killed in Tunisia on 21st January 1943 whilst serving with the Second Battalion of the London Irish Rifles.
IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT ANY OF THE EKIN BROTHERS EVER LIVED IN THE COOKSTOWN AREA.
