MORSHEAD, Leslie James
| Service Numbers: | Officer, NX8 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant General |
| Last Unit: | 1st Australian Corps Headquarters |
| Born: | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 18 September 1889 |
| Home Town: | Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Mount Pleasant State School, Melbourne Teachers' College, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | School Master |
| Died: | Cancer, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia , 26 September 1959, aged 70 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Parkville Old State College Memorial Windows, Sydney Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead Memorial Fountain |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked 33rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Sydney | |
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement 33rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169 Date: 4 October 1917 | |
| 25 Mar 1920: | Honoured Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 30 Date: 25 March 1920 |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Oct 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Brigadier, NX8 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant General, NX8 | |
| 21 Dec 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant General, 1st Australian Corps Headquarters |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Served in WWII NX8
L. J. MORSHEAD enlisted on 9th September and embarked as Captain in 2nd Battalion on 18 th October 1914. He arrived in Egypt on 7th December 1914 and took part in operations there till April 1915 when on 25th of that month he was in the Landing on Gallipoli. He took part also in the Defence of Anzac on 18-19th May and was on 8th June promoted to Major.
On 6th-9th August he was in the Battle of Lone Pine and was wounded . He was Mentioned in Despatches in " London Gazette " of 28th January 1916. On return to Egypt he was on 16th April 1916 promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel at age of 26, then the youngest Colonel in the British Army and was placed in command of 33rd
Battalion.
He arrived in France on 21st November 1916, was Mentioned in Despatches in "London Gazette " of 1/6 /17 and took part in
the Battle of Messines on 7th-11th June and the third Battle of Ypres in September-October 1917 including Zonnebeke , Broodseinde and Passchendaele and was wounded.
He was awarded D.S.O. on 3rd June 1917 and in 1918 he took part in much fighting as a result of which he was on 12th December 1919 awarded C.M.G. in the following official terms : "A Battalion Commander who has rendered most conspicuous and gallant
service. In a counter-attack at Hangard Wood on March 30th 1918, in the defence of Villers-Bretonneux on April 4th 1918, and in the Allied advance from August 8th till the cessation of hostilities, especially at Accroche Wood on August 8th, at Bray-sur-Somme on August 22nd-23rd, at Bouchavesnes north of Mont St. Quentin on August 31st and in the attack on the Hindenburg Line at Bony from September 29th till October 2nd Lieutenant-Colonel Morshead
led his Battalion with great courage and skill and with the greatest success. Throughout his long service in the field this officer distinguished himself by his strong personality, his great
initiative and his sound judgment. He proved himself an excellent leader, and displayed conspicuous ability in organisation and administration and marked capacity and energy in the training of his Battalion." He resumed command on 16th June 1918 after being wounded and was also Mentioned in Despatches in " London
Gazette " of 28th May and 31st December 1918.
On 14th July 1919 he was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General A.I.F. Depots in U.K. till 31st August 1919. He returned to Australia on 25th December 1919 and was again Mentioned in Despatches
in " London Gazette " of 12th January 1920. He was on 29th January 1919 awarded Croix de Chevalier Legion d'Honneur (France).
His appointment was terminated on 15th March 1920.
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