Regiment: East Kent Regt. (The Buffs).
Died: 01 November 1914 aged 19 in France. Killed in action at Ypres.
Battle: First Battle of Ypres. Cemetery: White House Cemetery St Jean Les Ypres III P 30
Born 5th August 1895. Son of Sir Francis Ley, Bt., Epperstone Manor, Notts, and Lady Ley of Lealholm Lodge, Lealholm, Yorks.
Upper IV A—Army II. House Prefect. House XI Football.
R.M.C. Sandhurst; East Kent Regt. 1914. Attached 1st Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment.
'At the end of September he was gazetted to the Buffs and was with the Reserve Battalion at Dover till Oct. 24th, when in answer to an urgent call he was sent to the front to be attached to the 1st Battalion of the Lincoln Regt. He had been at the front only five days when he fell. The Lincolns had advanced during the night to a position which proved to be extremely precarious, and at daybreak, owing to the enemy's rifle and artillery fire, were forced to retire. A few minutes before the retirement began, he was shot through the heart. So a most promising career has come to an untimely end. He had the makings of a first-rate officer; always energetic, intelligent, and exceptionally smart, he threw himself wholeheartedly into his work. He was one of the best of fellows, and his simplicity of character and cheerful disposition won him many friends. He made his mark at School as an athlete. Though heavily built, he was a fine sprinter and jumper. Few will forget the great struggle in the Sports of 1913 when he lost the Champion Cup by one mark.' (Malvernian, Dec 1914).
He was killed at Wystchaete, near Ypres, while endeavouring to assist his wounded men in a retirement.
The Maurice Ley Scholarship was founded in his memory.
Bond of sacrifice at IWM