Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Walter Wells, an architect, born 1871 in Nottingham and his wife Lydia Phoebe Wells (nee Nock, married in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in the Aston, Warwickshire district), born 1867 in Cradley, Staffordshire. William Leslie was born in the 1st quarter of 1892 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, he had one sibling, a sister Muriel Adeline, born 1896 in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 79, Evington Road, Leicester. In April 1911 William was employed as a bank clerk and was residing in the family home at Horston, Evington, Leicester, together with his father, an architect and surveyor, his mother and sister Muriel, a schoolgirl. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record William’s date of death as the 21st May 1916, however the Graves Registration Officer and the War Diary clearly record the date of William’s death as the 23rd May 1916.
The War Diary records: 23 May-16 – BOIS DE BOUVIGNY. Our barrage continued throughout day. Our infantry attacked at 8.28pm a few succeeded in reaching and capturing a portion of enemy front line but were bombed out. The following casualties were sustained. “B” Battery, 235th Brigade: 1149 Gunner G. F. HARLEY killed. 2930 Corporal C. COOK, 2738 Gunner H. BELL, 1467 Gunner H. BURROWS, 1049 Corporal F. G. BANNOCK wounded. 1499 Gunner C. W. ELMES, 2787 Gunner W. PARRY, 1507 Gunner F. FAULKNER, 1662 Gunner S. G. BLACKMAN, 2744 Gunner S. H. COOPER, 1907 Gunner H. G. MARTELL shell shock. “C” Battery, 235th Brigade: 1201 Gunner H. CARVER wounded. “D” Battery, 235th Brigade: 2nd Lieutenant W. L. WELLS killed.
On Friday June 2nd 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – LOCAL OFFICER KILLED. – Mr. W. W. Wells, of Horston, Linden Drive, Evington (of the firm Wakerley and Wells, architects) received on Friday evening a telegram from the War Office intimating that his son, Lieutenant W. Leslie Wells, had been killed in action on 23rd May. For some years the deceased gentleman occupied a position in Parr’s Bank, Leicester, from whence he proceeded in 1912 to fill an important position in the head offices of the London and River Plate Banking Co. On the outbreak of the war he took service as a dispatch rider, going to the front within a week of the declaration of war. He was present at the battle of Mons and subsequent engagements in the great retreat, and had many narrow escapes. Returning to England in March 1915, he was appointed Lieutenant in the Howitzer Brigade, and on his return to the front early in January last he was almost immediately attached to another Howitzer Brigade.