Tributes at passing of Uncle Jack

Thousands have paid tribute following the death of Sir Jack Leslie (99), one of Ireland’s last surviving second world war veterans and owner of the Castle Leslie estate in Co Monaghan.

The Family confirmed the death of the Glaslough resident on social media on Monday last.
Affectionately known as 'Uncle Jack’, he enlisted in the Second Battalion of the Irish Guards in August 1937, at the age of 21, joining the British Expeditionary Corp that landed in France in May 1940.
Commanding a section that battled for two hours to defend Boulogne Sur Mer against advancing Germans, Sir Jack was captured and spent the next five years as a prisoner of war (POW). It was believed for a time that he may had been killed whilst in action.
During his captivity, he spirited out a postcard to his cousin Winston Churchill pleading for a POW exchange to allow some of his comrades who had taken ill to be freed.
Since word of his death broke, tributes have flooded the Castle Leslie Facebook Page, with many more posting their messages to the a dedicated 'Sir John Leslie Appreciation page’ as well as using the hashtag '#UncleJack’‬ .
In November last year Sir Jack was awarded the 'National Order of the Legion of Honour’ by the French Ambassador to Ireland– a coveted prize that is regarded as the highest ranked medal in France.
He will also be remembered fondly by the many couples who held their wedding on the estate for his ritual of greeting the newly-weds on their special night.
Sir Jack also became well-known for his love of rave music at local nightclubs, and travelled to Ibiza to celebrate his 85th birthday at Privilege, the world’s largest nightclub.
Funeral mass takes place later today, Wednesday, April 20 at 2.30pm in St. Mary’s Church, Glennan, with burial afterwards at the family’s private cemetery at Castle Leslie Estate, Glaslough.
Donations in lieu of flowers if desired to Glaslough Villas Football Club and the Knight’s of Malta (Ireland).