56202 Corporal Leslie Frank Haider served in the 19^th  (Central Ontario) Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He applied in 1914, was accepted by the QOR on 18 January 1915, and died at the age of 24 on 8 August 1918. He left behind his parents Emily Madeline Sewart Haider and Max George Charles Haider; as well as a number of siblings. Haider didn’t appear to be romantically involved at the time of his enlistment and found himself working as a clerk/bookkeeper prior to joining the 19^th Battalion. As a bookkeeper he would have recorded transactions/invoices in a ledger, helped with audits, and assisted in general office administration for his employer.

 

Haider was actually born in London England before coming to Canada at the age of 18 and found himself returning home because of the war. He forwarded $15 a month to his mom in Sussex, England while he was abroad. Haider’s will left 30 Pounds to his friend Leslie Rayner in England, and the rest of his property to his sister D.M. Haider who was a Nurse at the time also living in England.

Haider’s battalion was in or near Ypres in 1916 when he was wounded by a high explosive shell. Haider also suffered from jaundice multiple times throughout his service, three times in 1917 unfortunately. His service record indicates his combat experience was limited to France in particular. Haider was ultimately buried in the Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux in Somme, France.

Written by Cpl Ryan Dunlop who holds Cpl Haider’s Coin of Remembrance