GREENLEAF, Leslie Webster
| Service Number: | 4783 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 October 1915, Gilgandra, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | London, England, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Eumungerie, Dubbo Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | 31 March 1980, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Dubbo General Cemetery, NSW |
| Memorials: | Eumungerie - Coboco RSL Memorial, Eumungerie Honour Roll, Gilgandra Coo-ee March Gallery |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4783, 13th Infantry Battalion, Gilgandra, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4783, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4783, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney |
Help us honour Leslie Webster Greenleaf's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Military Medal
'East of VILLERS BRETONNEUX on the morning of the 2nd May, 1918, when an Officer was severely wounded by machine gun fire and lay within full view of the enemy, Private GREENLEAF and [1403 S.N.] SMITH went to his assistance and carried him in at very great personal risk. With the assistance of two other men they improvised a stretcher squad, and, as the case was a serious one, carried through with it to the Regimental Aid Post. This was done in broad daylight, and practically the whole route was under observation of enemy snipers who were very active.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23
Date: 12 February 1919
'The last coo-ee'
Leslie trained at Liverpool and embarked to Egypt on board HMAT A15 Star of England on March 8, 1916 with the 13th Battalion. Leslie left Alexandria for Marseilles, France and arrived at the Western Front in July 1916 to face the battle at Pozieres in August of that year. On August 29, while attacking Mouquet Farm, he received a gunshot wound to his hand and was evacuated to England. He returned to his unit in France in December 1917, mainly on restricted duties. Leslie was recommended for a Military Medal for an action on May 2, 1918 when he saved the commanding officer’s life at the risk of his own. On May 20, 1918, he was wounded in action when a bomb exploded, injuring his left arm, and sent to England for convalescence and to work at Sutton Veny. He never returned to France.
He returned to Australia February 12, 1919 on the City of Exeter, arriving on March 2, 1919 and was discharged on May 11, 1919.
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