Leslie Bauchope

Bank: Parr’s Bank

Place of work: Bolton branch

Died: 21 May 1918

Leslie Cyril William Bauchope was born in Ilminster, Somerset in 1897, the son of John William Bauchope, a customs and excise officer, and his wife Louisa. In about 1913 he started working for Parr's Bank.

During the First World War Bauchope left his job at the bank's Bolton branch to join the army, serving initially as a Private in the Royal Fusiliers. He was posted to France in November 1915. In 1916 he was wounded on the Somme, losing a finger and sustaining injuries to his shoulder. While having his wounds dressed, he discovered that the medic treating him was the son of one of his customers at the bank, back home in Bolton.

Bauchope later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force), and was commissioned in August 1917. Lieutenant Bauchope was accidentally killed while flying at Stamford, Lincolnshire, on 21 May 1918. He was 20 years old.