Oliver Leslie was the son of John and Elizabeth Bryan (née Rumley).
His father John was born in Greetham, Rutland, on 25 July 1851, the son of John and Alice Bryan. He was baptised at Greetham on 4 August 1851. His mother Elizabeth was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire, in 1858 (J/F/M Belper, the daughter of George and Mary Rumley (née Meads). In 1861 the family, including Elizabeth's six siblings, was living in Alfreton; George Rumley, who was born in Southwell, was a labourer.
John (31) and Elizabeth (24) were married at Swanwick St Andrew on 28 August 1882 (J/A/S Belpter). They had at least six children: Elizabeth Alice b. Fulwood Nottinghamshire 1882 (O/N/D Mansfield) and John George b. 14 January 1885, Charles Ellis b. 3 January 1888, William Lewis birth registered 1887 (J/F/M Belper), Henry Stanley b. 3 June 1889 and Oliver Leslie birth registered 1891 (J/F/M Belper) who were all born in Swanwick, Derbyshire.
In 1891 John, a coal miner, and Elizabeth together with their six children Elizabeth (8), John (6), William (4), Charles (3), Henry (1) and Oliver (under 1 year) were living in Fletchers' Yard, The Green Alfreton.
John snr. died in 1892 aged 40 and was buried in Swanwick churchyard on 7 May 1892.
His widow married Edward Eyre in 1897 (A/M/J Mansfield) and they had had four children by 1911, two of whom had died in infancy: Frederick b. Morton Derbyshire abt 1898; Ethel Lilian b. 1889 (A/M/J Chesterfield) d. 1900 (J/F/M Mansfield); Alfred Roland (Rowland Alfred) b. 1900 (J/A/S) d. 1901 (J/F/M Mansfield) and Claude Roland b. Claycross Derbyshire birth registered 1902 (J/F/M Mansfield).
In 1901 Edward (45 b. North Wingfield), a coal miner, and Elizabeth were living in South Normanton with five children by her first marriage - John and William who were both coal miners, Charles, Stanley and Oliver, and their son Frederick (3).
Charles Bryan enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery in 1906 giving his mother's address as 1 Stoneyford Lane, Sutton in Ashfield. He was working as a coal miner.
However, by 1911 Elizabeth and Edward were living in Skegby. Only John, Charles and Oliver, a coal miner/labourer, and Frederick and Claude were still living at home.
The CWGC record gives Elizabeth Eyre's address as Ronald Villas, Skegby. She probably died in 1943 (J/F/M Mansfield).
At least two of Oliver's brothers, Charles Ellis and Henry Stanley, also served in the war and evidence from the Court of Enquiry into Oliver's death in 1915 suggests that it was they who helped searched for Oliver's body after the trench he was in was severely damaged by a mine.
Charles Ellis enlisted in the Royal Marines Artillery (11699) on 14 March 1906 (Nottingham) but was discharged on 30 May the same year on payment of £10. He served in the war in the 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (305053 Corporal) and discharged (sickness) on 7 August 1917 aged 30. He was issued with a Silver War Badge (352412) on 16 March 1918. He married Elizabeth Ann Quick in 1918 (J/F/M Mansfield); they had at least five children: Annie b. 1918 d. 1920, Charles Ellis b. 1920 KIA 1940, Robert L. b. 1923, Mavis b. 1925 and Claude V. b. 1928 d. 1930. They were living in Welbeck Square, Skegby in 1929. His wife Elizabeth and children Robert and Mavis were recorded on the 1939 Register of England & Wales living on Hazel Street, Skegby. Charles and his son of the same name have not yet been traced on the 1939 Register. Charles snr. probably died in 1969 (J/F/M Mansfield).
Henry Stanley enlisted in the Special Reserve on a 4 year engagement on 27 November 1911, initially in the 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (1250). He transferred to embodied service on 5 August 1914 and served in France from 2 March 1915 until 4 December 1915. He transferred to the Labour Corps (326288), probably on 30 June 1917, and then to the Army Reserve (Class P) on 9 September 1918. Henry married Sarah Osborne (b. 1 October 1893) in 1912 (J/A/S Mansfield) and in 1939 they were living in Long Eaton; he was a steel wire braider. Also in the household was Oliver L Bryan (b. 18 February 1923) a tool makers' apprentice) and Mary A Fretwell (b. 22 September 1912) a widow. The record of another member of the household remains closed. Henry died in 1942 (O/N/D Shardlow).
Oliver's two other brothers, John and William, may not have been conscripted in the war - both were coal miners.
John George, a colliery hewer, was living in Southwell in 1939 with his wife Ada Ellen (b. 8 February 1890). He probably died in 1960 (J/F/M Mansfield).
William Lewis married Gertrude Hannah Hardy (b. 19 November 1887) in 1907 (J/F/M Mansfield). In 1911 they and their two children, Ivy May (5) and William Lewis (3), were living on Stanton Hill, Skegby, with Gertrude's parents. In 1939 William and Gertrude were living in Clowne, Derbyshire. He died in 1955 and was buried in Barlborough churchyard, Derbyshire on 12 May.
Their sister Elizabeth Alice married Richard Maddison Young in Chesterfield on 16 April 1900. In 1911 they and their eight children were living in Chesterfield with Richard's parents. Elizabeth probably died in 1957 (O/N/D Chesterfield).