Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Leslie James Thomas Watkins
Service Number: 4295
Place of Birth: Woodside
Date of Birth: 15 July 1895
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 16 August 1915
Age at Enlistment: 20 years 1 month
Next of Kin: Mother, Martha Louisa Watkins
Occupation: Labourer
Religion: Methodist
Rank: Private
Leslie embarked with the 10th Battalion from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on 11 January 1916. He was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital Cairo, Egypt on 1 March due to the loss of a thumb. Leslie’s war record does not clarify the circumstances under which he lost the thumb. He transferred to the 4th Field Bakery in April. This was most likely motivated by the injury as it enabled Leslie to continue his war service despite the absence of the thumb making combat difficult. However, Leslie’s son Lance Watkins states that his father was adamant that the thumb was lost in an industrial accident prior to enlisting in the war. That may well be the case, but it raises the question if so, how was he able to pass the rigid physical examination conducted as part of the recruiting process?
Leslie went to France with his unit on 20 November 1917. He suffered 3 bouts of illness necessitating hospitalisation from November 1917 to January 1918, rejoining his unit on 21 February 1918. Leslie returned to Australia on board the Sardinia on 19 April 1919 and was discharged on 27 July. He died at Woodside Hospital on 15 January 1984.