7/5/18: Quite day. Some hostile sniping was noticeable at targets near LOISNE CENTRAL KEEP.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

203563 Pte Leslie Arthur Waite died of wounds aged 21 and was the Son of Lucy Waite of 29 Ponsonby Terrace in Derby.

Leslie was a moulder’s assistant and enlisted under the Derby Scheme in November 1915 and was mobilised in March 1917. After 3 months training with the 5th Reserve Battalion he was posted to the 14 IBD in Calais (June 1917) and taken on strength of 2/6th Battalion. He was subsequently transferred to the 1/5th Battalion a month later and joined them in the field on the 29th July 1917.

At some point he was renumbered 203653 to reflect his service with the Territorial Force

Three days later, whilst cleaning his rifle, he accidentally wounded himself and four of his comrades (see below). Following a field court martial he was sentenced to 56 days of field punishment.