Christopher Francis Aden Ley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Son of the late Sir Francis Ley, 1st Bart. and of Lady Ley, of Lealholm Lodge, Lealholm, Yorks. Sir Francis founded Ley's Malleable Castings, Vulcan Ironworks, Derby. He bought Epperstone Manor and was created a baronet (of Epperstone Manor) in 1905. He married Alison Catherine Jobson in 1888 after the death of his first wife (Georgina Townsend; one son, Henry Gordon, and two daughters, Agnes Willis and Ethel), and they had two sons, Christopher and Maurice. Sir Francis Ley died 17 January 1916. Christopher's brother, Lieutenant Maurice Aden Ley, The Buffs (East Kent Rgt) attd 1st Bn Lincolnshire Rgt, was killed 1 November 1914 aged 19.
South Nottinghamshire Hussars attached 40th Training Squadron Royal Flying Corps. Gazetted 2nd Lieut South Notts Yeomanry September 1914, promoted Lieutenant September 1917 and Captain the following November. Served Gallipoli August-November 1915, contracted typhoid and invalided home. Joined RFCA August 1916, to France May 1917 and wounded June 1917. Killed in a flying accident (see below) and buried Lealholm (St James the Greater) Churchyard, Yorkshire.Website, Invasionzone.com (7 September 2012): Norfolk Chronicle 22 March 1918, 'Captain C Ley RFC was killed while flying at Croydon on Saturday. While he was giving an exhibition flight in connection with the local Tank Day, he came down too low and his machine struck the chimney stack of a house.' 'Airmen died' by Chris Hobson gives his details as Capt Christopher Francis Aden Ley, 40 Tr Sqn, pilot (S Notts Hussars) from Leaholm age 24, killed 16 March 1918 whilst flying Sopwith Camel B7462 and buried at Leaholm, Yorks. 'The Camel File', Sturtivant and Page, has the incident in the details for B7462 and states 'Pilot misjudged dive from 1000 ft, hit house,.
Will proved at £14,869.Inscription on Christopher's grave in the churchyard of St James the Greater, Lealholm: ‘In loving memory of Captain Christopher FA Ley, born June 7th 1893. Died March 16th 1918. Also of 2nd Lieut Maurice A Ley, born Aug 5th 1895, fell Nov 1st 1914. And in memory of Sir Francis Ley, born Jan 3rd 1846, at rest Jan 17th 1916.'Christopher is commemorated on the Pembroke College (Cambridge) war memorial. He and Maurice are commemorated on the Lealholm war memorial (WMA 30606) and a memorial (WMA 30603) and roll of honour (WMA 30602) in the parish church of St James the Greater, Lealholm, North Yorkshire, the Kirkoswald Cross (WMA2994) at Kirkoswald, Cumbria, where their father was Lord of the Manor (www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/local-history.php), and also on the parish memorial in St Luke's church, Redcliffe Gardens, Kensington, London (WMA12117). Sir Francis placed memorials to Maurice in his factory at Derby and in Epperstone parish church; however, Christopher was killed two years after the death of his father, and this probably explains why there are no family memorials to Christopher.
