98069
CORNISH, Leslie Ashton
| Service Number: | 2286 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Normanville, 14 July 1893 |
| Home Town: | Kensington, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Memorials: | Yankalilla District Roll of Honour WW1, Yankalilla War Memorial Wall |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Feb 1916: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2286, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2286, 50th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Apr 1917: | Wounded 2286, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Gunner, 2286 |
World War 2 Service
| 17 May 1942: | Enlisted Coleraine, VIC |
|---|
Help us honour Leslie Ashton CORNISH's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Leslie Ashton Cornish was born in Normanville, South Australia on the 14th of July 1893. His mother Sarah Annie Cornish raised him in Kensington, South Australia before he enlisted on the 5th of February 1916, at the age of 23.
Prior to enlisting, Leslie worked as a farmer, was single and identified as a Methodlist. There is little primary source information about Leslie’s pre-war life.
On 5 February 1916 Leslie enlisted with the 50th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement holding the rank of Private.
12 August 1916 Leslie embarked Adelaide on the HMAT Ballarat A70. As an aside, on 25 April 1917 the HMAT Ballarat was torpedoed by a German submarine in the English Channel and sank the following day. Thankfully no one died.
The 50th Battalion engaged in front line duty on the Western Front and behind the line training and labouring.
On 2 April 1917 Leslie was wounded in action and suffered an injury to his left thigh and was admitted to Kitchener Hospital on 7 April 1917. He was transferred to Beach Green Withyham on 7 May 1917.
Unfortunately, Leslie contracted diptheria and was admitted to the Salisbury Isolation Hospital Sutton Veny on 22 July 1917.
On 3 August 1917 Leslie was discharged, free from infection certified by letter from O.C. dated 26 September 1917.
Leslie returned to Australia on 29 June 1919 aboard the HMAT SS Port Napier.
Leslie was discharged on 13 August 1919.
Leslie was awarded the Star medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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