Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leonard was the son of William Henry MOSS & Dorothea Benedicte Marie Cathrine NISSEN and was born on the 23rd of May 1894 in Stepney, SA. He was baptized in the Holy Trinity Church in Adelaide.

His parents were married on the 23rd of October 1893 in the Trinity Church, Adelaide, SA.

His father was the son of Matthew MOSS & Mary BROOKS and was born on the 18th of August 1857 in Salisbury, SA.

His mother was the daughter of Hans Christian NISSEN & Kristine Frederikke BOISEN and was born on the 25th of June 1864 in Bevtoft, Hadersley, Denmark.

____________________________

Leonard was the second child born into the family of 8 children; 5 boys, 3 girls.

His father was a Gardener in Smithfield and by 1900 the Moss family had moved to Louis Street, Stepney, where Leonard’s maternal grandparents lived.

They then moved to Bugle Ranges where his father gained work as a Blacksmith around the Macclesfield area and his brother Stanley attended the Bugle Ranges School in 1901.

They were not here for very long and the family moved to Watson Street, Maylands and Leonard then attended the Norwood Primary School.

Leonard was only 8 years old when his mother died on the 18th of May 1902 at their home and they buried her in the Payneham Cemetery the following day.

In the same year his father gained employment at G Fisher & Sons Chaff mill as an accountant and confidential secretary in Riverton, SA.

It would appear that the Moss children lived with their maternal grandparents as in 1903 Leonard’s younger brother; Norman Henry, attended the Norwood Primary School and his guardian was Mrs Nissen.

He then moved to Renmark in 1908 with his brothers and he joined the Renmark Scouts with Stanley.

He gained employment with Captain William Johnstone Moffat on his fruit block and in his packing shed and then contacting work box & case making.

His brother Stanley enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 3rd of April 1915 in Keswick and was allotted the service number 2636 and posted to C Company, Base Infantry in Mitcham Camp.

At the age of 21, Leonard enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 9th of April 1915 in Keswick and was allotted the service number 2638 and posted to C Company, Base Infantry in Mitcham Camp, with his brother. His father gave permission for him to enlist.

Leonard & Stanley were then transferred to the 10th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement and embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A61 Kanowna on the 23rd of June 1915, disembarking in Egypt at the end of July.

Following further training Leonard and Stanley proceeded to Gallipoli on the 11th of September 1915 on board HMT Kingstonian and were taken on strength with the 10th Battalion, D Company from the reinforcements 6 days later.

They spent 3 months on the Peninsula in the trenches before the ANZACS were ordered to evacuate.

They boarded HMAT Seang Bee, disembarking in Alexandria on the 19th of December.

Whilst they were in Alexandria their younger brother; Norman Henry, enlisted into the AIF on the 17th of January 1916 (1203) and was posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion at Exhibition Camp (Jubilee Oval).

(Norman suffered from delusions of persecution whilst in training and on the 18th of April 1916 he was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit, due to Acute Mania and was admitted into the Parkside Mental Hospital for treatment).

The 10th Battalion was then split to form the nucleus of two battalions, the 10th and the 50th and both Leonard and Stanley were posted to the 50th Battalion on the 26th of February 1916.

The 50th Battalion became part of the 13th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division and was known as 'Hurcombe's Hungry Half Hundred', after its first Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Hurcombe. 

Stanley however was only with this Battalion for 3 weeks before he was transferred to the 13th Machine Gun Company on the 16th of March and an “A” was added to his service number.

During this time their cousin; Wilfred Joseph MOSS had enlisted into the 10th Battalion, 19th Reinforcements on the 18th of April 1916 and embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 12th of August 1916. He was No 1 on the Lewis Machine Gun, Section B, when the 10th Battalion was in the front line neat Lagicourt and was Killed in Action on the 8th of April 1917. He has no known grave.

Leonard proceeded to France on the 5th of June 1916, aboard the SS Ivernia, disembarking in Marseilles on the 12th of June. Leonard fought on the Western Front for his entire service.

He gained some leave in June 1917 and went to France and Scotland.

On the 20th of September 1917 Stanley and his Company were bussed to Flahov and then moved to the Belgian Chateau in the Wippenhoek area the following day to relieve the 5th Australian Machine Gun Company.

It was here on the 26th of September 1917 that Stanley suffered multiple Gun Shot Wounds and was admitted into the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Outtersteene, a site called "Tasmania" near Hazebrouck. 

That afternoon the vicinity of the Casualty Clearing Station was shelled, and one fell at the back of the Officers’ ward, but fortunately did not explode. The patients, including Stanley, were evacuated to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding near Lijssenthoek.

It was here that Stanley succumbed to his wounds and died on the 26th of September 1917.

He was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium; Plot XXIII, Row A, Grave No. 7.

On the very same day that Stanley died, Leonard was at Westhoek Ridge and whilst with Brigade Forward Party, he showed conspicuous courage and coolness in laying telephone lines under heavy enemy shell fire. On several occasions he volunteered to repair lines during enemy barrage, and at great personal risk carried out the job perfectly. He also showed extreme coolness and bravery in bandaging wounded and assisting them to a place of safety. The following day he was responsible for many acts similar to the above.'

For his courage Leonard was awarded the Military Medal (MM).

Leonard embarked for Australia from England on the 5th of April 1919 on board HMAT Warwickshire, disembarking in Adelaide on the 24th of May and was discharged from the AIF on the 25th of July 1919.

On Monday evening, the 16th of June a welcome home social was held in the Renmark Institute for Leonard.

Leonard married Annie Georgina PARIS on the 12th of July 1921 in St Augustine’s Church, Unley.

Annie was the daughter of George James PARIS & Jane Ann CHILES and was born on the 20th of April 1896 in Hyde Park, SA.

Leonard obtained 2 Soldier settlement blocks in Renmark Block E.

Block 95 was located on Warrego Street and consisted of 18 acres and Block 226 on Culgoa Street, consisting of 4 acres.

With his knowledge of fruit growing and horticulture Leonard turned these blocks into being very productive.

They finished their new house in Warrego Street, Renmark a few weeks after they were married.

They welcomed their first child; Stanley Walter, on the 24th of August 1923, followed by Brian Edwin on the 28th of January 1925 and John William George on the 26th of February 1929.

They also had 2 daughters; Margaret & Nancy.

He became the President of the Chaffey Agricultural Bureau in 1936 and later the Secretary and in 1946 was awarded Life Membership of the Bureau.

He was also the Scoutmaster of the Renmark Scouts.

With the outbreak of WW2 their son Stanley enlisted into the RAAF (115832) on the 26th of August 1942 and then Brian then enlisted into the RAAF on the 23rd of February 1945 (457004).

From 1946-50 Leonard was the President of the Renmark Sports Association and was involved in the organisation and construction of the new pool.

In later life he enjoyed playing Chess for the Renmark Chess Club and he donated the Most Improved Trophy for the Chaffey Football Club.

Leonard died on the 15th of June 1958 in Renmark and was buried the following day in the Renmark General Cemetery; Section O, Plot 58.

Military

At the age of 21, Leonard enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 9th of April 1915 in Keswick and was allotted the service number 2638 and posted to C Company, Base Infantry in Mitcham Camp, with his brother; Stanley.

He listed his father, of Riverton, as his next of kin.

They were both transferred to the 10th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement and embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A61 Kanowna on the 23rd of June 1915, disembarking in Egypt at the end of July.

Following further training Leonard & Stanley proceeded to Gallipoli on the 11th of September 1915 on board HMT Kingstonian and was taken on strength with the 10th Battalion, from the reinforcements 6 days later.

They spent 3 months on the Peninsula in the trenches before the ANZACS were ordered to evacuate.

They boarded HMAT Seang Bee, disembarking in Alexandria on the 19th of December.

The 10th Battalion was then split to form the nucleus of two battalions, the 10th and the 50th and Leonard & Stanley were posted to the 50th Battalion on the 26th of February 1916 in Serapeum.

The 50th Battalion became part of the 13th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division and was known as 'Hurcombe's Hungry Half Hundred', after its first Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Hurcombe. 

However, Stanley was only with this Battalion for 3 weeks before he was transferred to the 13th Machine Gun Company on the 16th of March and an “A” was added to his service number.

Leonard proceeded to France on the 5th of June 1916, aboard the SS Ivernia, disembarking in Marseilles on the 12th of June.

The 50th Battalion was committed to the fighting and moved into their billets at Fleu Baix (Fromelles) on the 28th of June.

They marched out to Estaires on the 11th of July and then through Bailleul two days later and then on to their billets in Pernois. They remained here in training for 2 weeks and did not take part in the Battle of Fromelles on the 19th – 20th July.

They left Pernois on the 29th of July and began their 12 mile march to their billets in Herissart. They left Herissart on the 1st of August for Vadencourt and bivouacked in the woods near the village for 4 days before moving onto Brickfields Camp, near Albert.

Leonard would have been surprised to see Stanley and the 13th Machine Gun Company already at Brickfields Camp. Stanley then moved onto Tara Hill 2 days later.

On the 12th of August Leonard and the 50th moved into the front line between Mouquet Farm & Pozieres for 3 days.

They went back to Brickworks Camp and the following day they marched out to Warloy and billeted in the village.

From here they marched through La Vicogne, Fieffes, Rubempre, Vadencourt and then onto Albert on the 29th, where they were billeted for 6 days.

They spent the next four weeks in and out of the front line and suffered over 400 casualties.

They then moved to Warloy, Amplier and then to Authuille where they were entrained for Steenvoorde.

At Steenvoorde they completed further training and were re fitted before moving onto Tatinghem, where they remained until the 9th of October when they were eventually entrained to Dickebusch.

November was in the front line at Fricourt before they moved onto Bernafay Wood and again Leonard was to see Stanley again as the 10th Battalion was bivouacked beside them.

Leonard and his Battalion left for Quarry Sidings on the 6th of December and were entrained to Buire into their billets. Two weeks later they moved to St Vaast and this is where Leonard spent Chridtmas Day 1916. They remained here until the 3rd of January when they moved to Cardonette, then onto Buire and back to Fricourt and onto Bexantin on the 7th, where they camped in huts.

The following day they took over the front line trench (Flers Gap & Switch) and relieved the 11th Battalion, north of Flers.

They remained here until they were relieved and moved to Perth Camp, near Bernafay, via Delville Wood, on the 28th of January.

Whilst here, on the 9th of February Leonard suffered from Gonorrheae and was admitted into the 12th Australian Field Ambulance and then into the 51st General Hospital in Etaples.

He remained here for nearly 10 weeks before he was discharged back to his Battalion on the 22nd of April at Buire, missing the battle at Noreuil.

They remained at Buire until mid May undergoing specialist training for their next attack, the Battle of Messines, before moving to Outtersteene and then onto Neuve Eglise on the 31st.

The Battle of Messines commenced on the 7th of June and they were initially used to provide carrying parties for the assault, before launching an attack around Blauwepoortbeek late on the 9th of June. Lacking artillery support, the attack was held up when it came up against uncut wire entanglements and machine guns. A scheduled relief was cancelled and second effort was made the following morning, this time with artillery support, and this succeeded in gaining part of the Oosttaverne Line.

The were relieved on the 11th of June and moved to De Seule Camp, near Neuve Eglise, but before this took place a patrol from the 50th helped soldiers from the British 11th Division occupy Delporte Farm.

They were later bussed to Bandringhem for further training (whilst they were here Pte. Jensen received his Victorian Cross (VC)) and then onto Outtersteene on the 21st of June.

By the 1st of July they were near De Seule Camp, west of Ploegsteert Wood, in tents, as the Divisional Reserve.

On the 13th they moved into support near Ploegsteert Wood (Lawrence Farm) and relieved the 16th Battalion and after 6 days were relieved by the 2nd Battalion Otago Regiment (NZ Div) and moved back to the lines near canteen corner and then to Steenwerck.

In August they moved to Kemmel as reserve for the 12th Brigade and were engaged in working parties. On the 21st of August they left for Aldershot Camp, near Neuve Eglise and then onto Ploegsteert Wood and took over the front line the following day.

On the 1st of September, after very hostile fighting, they were relieved and moved back to Neuve Eglise. They had suffered 188 casualties (35 of which were killed).

They then moved through Le Breardeand Lugy before heading back to Steenvoorde on the 20th of September.

From here they moved to Ypres and on the 23rd they relieved the 52nd Battalion at Westhoek Ridge and prepared for the attack on Polygon Wood.

They left Westhoek Ridge at 1am on the 26th of September 1917 and moved to the jumping off tape by 4:30am.

The attack commenced at 5:50am and they suffered a few early casualties from short shooting from their own Batteries.

It was during this attack that Leonard, whilst with the Brigade Forward Party, showed conspicuous courage and coolness in laying telephone lines under heavy enemy shell fire. On several occasions he volunteered to repair lines during enemy barrage, and at great personal risk carried out the job perfectly. He also showed extreme coolness and bravery in bandaging wounded and assisting them to a place of safety.

The following day he was responsible for many acts similar to the above and for his courage Leonard was awarded the Military Medal (MM).

After being relieved they moved to Broodseinde Ridge where they spent October rejoining the railway and by the end of October they were back at Lugy.

Whilst they were here Leonard was transferred to the 4th Australian Division Signal Company as a Sapper on the 1st of November at Bomy.

They then moved onto Regniere Ecluse and Gamaches and then to Haut Allaines where Leonard spent Christmas Day 1917.

On the 10th of January Leonard was granted 2 weeks leave to England and by the time re rejoined his unit they had moved to Scherpenberg and while they were he they tried “messenger dogs” for the very first time.

Leonard’s main role now involved the maintenance of the Communications Line and patrolling of the line. He was also involved in the burying of cables at 7 feet deep along the Ypres-Comines Canal.

On the 2nd of March they shut this office and reopened at Merris. They then closed and dismantled it on the 25th and moved to Baizieux.

Leonard continued this work from March until the 7th of November when he was granted 2 weeks leave to England and whilst he was in England, the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918.

Leonard rejoined his unit at Cavillon and they then moved to the Sains Du Nord area and this is where Leonard spent his last Christmas Day away from his family and friends.

He returned to England on the 5th of January 1919 and marched into No.1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny awaiting his embarkation back to Australia.

Leonard embarked for Australia from England on the 5th of April 1919 on board HMAT Warwickshire, disembarking in Adelaide on the 24th of May and was discharged from the AIF on the 25th of July 1919

*Leonard also had 5 cousins that served in WW1.

Lt. Alfred Hubert MOSS (260) - drowned off SS 'Warilda' after 4 years active service, on 3rd of August 1918.

HMAT Warilda, an Australian hospital ship, was struck and sunk by a torpedo from a German U-boat. The vessel had been transporting sick and wounded Allied soldiers across the English Channel and was clearly marked with a Red Cross.  At the time of the attack there were 801 people aboard.  Sadly, 123 lost their lives.

George Howard MOSS (167) – Returned to Australia

Cyril Edgar MOSS (56111) – Returned to Australia

Harry Brookes MOSS (1295) – Returned to Australia

Wilfred Joseph MOSS (5799) - Killed in Action on the 8th of April 1917. He has no known grave.