Leslie Joseph DURLACHER

DURLACHER, Leslie Joseph

Service Number: 2363
Enlisted: 12 August 1915, Lismore, New South Wales
Last Rank: Driver
Last Unit: 4th Machine Gun Battalion
Born: Kilburn, London, England, 24 March 1896
Home Town: Kyogle, New South Wales
Schooling: Tivoli School, Gravesend, England
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Pneumonia - influenza, 1st Australian General Hospital, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England, 16 February 1919, aged 22 years
Cemetery: Willesden Jewish Cemetery, London, England
KK. 3., INSCRIPTION -SCATHELESS THROUGH BATTLE'S DANGERS STRICKEN DOWN BY DISEASE
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

12 Aug 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2363, Lismore, New South Wales
5 Oct 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2363, 25th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: ''
5 Oct 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2363, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Brisbane
16 Feb 1919: Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 2363, 4th Machine Gun Battalion

Help us honour Leslie Joseph Durlacher's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon

Tivoli House, 89 Windmill Street, Gravesend, Kent

There was quite an established Jewish community in Gravesend. The school was located in what is now known as Tivoli House in Windmill Street although it was originally a hotel; part of the building was also the synagogue. The leading Jewish citizen at the turn of the 20th Century was Isidore Berkowitz: he was headmaster. He was a town councillor, and also became mayor. It was a boarding school, so many of the boys came from other towns.

Tivoli house is now a block of apartments. 

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Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Leslie Joseph DURLACHER was born in London, England on 24th March, 1896

His parents were Samuel DURLACHER & Rose Jeannette KYEZOR who married in England in 1895 (marriage registered in Paddington)

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 16th February…… Leslie Joseph Durlacher was born at Kilburn, London, England. Leslie Joseph Durlacher was a twin with Gordon Durlacher. They were born on 24th March, 1896.

Leslie & Gordon’s parents - Rose & Samuel Durlacher separated around 1898 but the children were told that their father had died. Samuel Durlacher went to live in Germany, remarried & had 5 children to that marriage.
According to information provided for the Roll of Honour by Miss Jean Cohen (old friend of family) - Miss Jean Cohen (old friend of family) Leslie Durlacher came to Australia when he was 16 years old.

He enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 12th August, 1915 as a 19 year old, (listed on Embarkation Roll as 22 years old) single, Farmer when he enlisted at Lismore, NSW.

Private Leslie Durlacker (name as listed on the WW1 Embarkation Roll), Service number 2363, embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Warilda (A15) on 5th October, 1915 with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 25th Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcements.

He was admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Cairo with Influenza & discharged to Base at Zeitoun on 15th February, 1916.

On 9th March, 1916 Private Durlacher was taken on strength of 47th Battalion from 25th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir.

Private Durlacher was transferred to 12th Brigade Machine Gun Company on 19th March, 1916 & was to be Driver from 21st March, 1916.

He was written up on 4th April, 1916 while posted at Serapeum – “removing Company Stores without permission” & was awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks.

On 2nd June, 1916 Driver Durlacher proceeded to join B.E.F. from Alexandria on Kingstonian & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 11th June, 1916.

A.I.F. Order 1151 Designation Change for Driver Leslie Durlacher to join 4th Machine Gun Battalion. Recorded on his Casualty Form – Active Service on 1st April, 1918.

Driver Durlacher was reported to be with his Unit (4th Machine Gun Battalion) in France on 2nd June, 1918.
He was on leave to UK from 17th August, 1918 & rejoined his Unit from leave on 5th September, 1918.
On 9th January, 1919 Driver Durlacher was struck off strength in France for Return to Australia – 1915 Personnel.

Driver Durlacher was to embark for England from A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 15th January, 1919 as part of R.T.A. (Return to Australia) - 1915 Personnel.

He was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England on 16th January, 1919. He was marched out to 2nd Training Battalion on 7th February, 1919.

On 10th February, 1919 Driver Durlacher was sent sick from 2nd Training Depot to No. 4 Clearing Hospital at Codford, Wiltshire. He was admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 11th February, 1919 with Influenza.

Driver Leslie Joseph Durlacher died at 7.45 pm on 16th February, 1919 at 1st Australian General Hospital, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England from Broncho Pneumonia.

He was buried in Willesden Jewish Cemetery, Willesden, Brent, London, England where 7 other WW1 Australian (or connected to Australia) War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/jewish-cemetery.html

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