Source: Per email with news clipping from Jim Kelly.
Find-A-Grave
Family Search: When Leslie Samuel Winch was born on 22 September 1895, in Bruce, Ontario, Canada, his father, Stephen Winch, was 34 and his mother, Anne Armstrong, was 25. He had at least 3 daughters with Irene Elsie McFARLANE. He lived in Bluevale, Turnberry, Huron, Ontario, Canada in 1916 and Paisley, Bruce, Ontario, Canada in 1926. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1916, at the age of 21, his occupation is listed as teacher in Bluevale, Turnberry, Huron, Ontario, Canada. He died in Edmonton, Edmonton Metropolitan Region, Alberta, Canada.
PRESENTATION TO SOLDIER
On Wednesday, June 28th, the Elora road friends and neighbors assembled at the home of Mr. and Mrs. S. Winch to spend a social time with their son Leslie, who had been home for a few days’ furlough after closing of school at Blevale prior to going to London to train with the 161st Huron Co Batt. An interesting programme was placed in the hands of Mr. W. Pearce, who acted as chairman. The following address was read by Mr. A. Miller and the presentation made by Miss Edna Sparrow:
To Pte Leslie S. Winch:
Dear Leslie—Having learned that you had enlisted with the long roll of heroes who are standing in defence of our Empire, we, your friends, have assembled here to spend a few social hours with you before you take your departure from us in defence of our Canadian homes and by our presence express our good will towards you. We are proud that you are to be represented by another Elora road boy in the great fight which our boys are now waging. While we deeply regret that you are leaving us, yet we admire the courage that enabled you to make the sacrifice which is necessary to perform the dangerous tasks of a soldier with unflinching courage and manliness. We therefore ask you to accept this wristwatch and fountain pen as a slight token of honor which we wish to bestow upon you, and we sincerely hope that the severance of your happy relations here will be for a short time, and when the conflict is over and the victory won, that the Giver who guides us may protect you to return to your home where a hearty welcome will await you.
Signed on behalf of your friends and neighbors: Stewart McNeill Neil MacArthur Isaac Beech F. Pearce
Pte Winch made a suitable response in which he thanked the donors for their gifts. Then he told his chief reason for enlisting and answering the king’s call. Seeing women temporarily doing other men’s tasks, which were more tedious than school teaching, he deemed it his duty to enlist and leave the vacancy to be filled by a lady teacher.
The programme consisted of piano duets by the Misses Winch, recitations by Miss E. Sparrow and Mrs. Collins, patriotic selections by Pte. John McDonald, of the 147th Batt., selections on the pipes by Piper Harold McLeod, of the 134th Batt. The S. S. children rendered patriotic selections with Miss Winch as accompanist. A most interesting part of the programme was the reading of an address presented to Pte. Winch by the pupils of Blevale school. On being called to speak, Mr. S. Winch in well-chosen words expressed the thanks of himself and Mrs. Winch for the respect shown to their son. Lunch was then served, the crowd being agreeably surprised by being served with an overflowing dish of ice cream provided by the host and hostess.
By the Wingham Times, we note that Pte. Winch was presented with a suede leather money belt by the pupils of his school at Blevale at the close of the term. The Times correspondent says: “Pte. Winch has been very popular with the children, although the management of one of the largest schools in the inspectorate required the exercise of strict discipline, and the training of an extra-large entrance class, the opening of school gardens and the many improvements to the grounds which demanded his oversight, made him an unusually busy teacher. A considerable number of adults joined the children in giving him a send-off at the closing of school.”
Paisley Advocate, July 12, 1916. Via Bruce Remembers.
Pte. Leslie Winch, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Winch Elora Road north, made the last stage of this trip home by motor from Palmerston on Sunday, the troop train coming only that far. Leslie enlisted with the 161st of Huron county, went overseas in Oct., 1916, and last summer was transferred to the 18th and went to France.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 