S600
BAXENDALE, Leslie William
| Service Number: | 1677 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Westbourne Park, SA, 16 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Westbourne Park (Cottonville), Mitcham, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Ironmonger |
| Died: | 15 April 1981, aged 90 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Daw Park Goodwood Road Methodist Church Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1677, 32nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 1677, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 1677, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Driver, 1677 |
Help us honour Leslie William Baxendale's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Leslie William Baxendale was born on the 16th of July 1890 in Westbourne Park, South Australia. He lived with his mother named Hephzibah Baxendale, father, 4 sisters and 7 brothers. Before Baxendale enlisted into the war, he was an Ironmonger and followed the Methodist faith. Baxendale was described as having a fair complexion, standing at 5’4” and weighing 118 pounds. Baxendale had brown hair and blue eyes.
Baxendale attempted to enlist, but was rejected the first time due to poor teeth. He would successfully try again on the 18th of April 1915 and later would embark from Adelaide on the HMAT Borda, on the 11th of January 1916. Baxendale’s brother Harry Witherick Baxendale enlisted a year later.
Baxendale served in the Middle East until June 1916 when he proceeded to France. He remained on the Western Front until May 1918 when he was injured and evacuated to England for treatment
He returned to Australia disembarking 29th March 1919 and was discharged 10th May 1919.
After the war there are multiple newspapers documenting Baxendale participating in rifle shooting contests. Multiple newspapers state that he and his club were quite skilled at it and won a few competitions. He also joined the Glenunga Methodist Choir. One article written by theA dvertiser announces that he had a son born on the 16th of January 1922. In another news article published on the 28th of February 1953, his son Peter would be married on March 15th. Another article says that his eldest son John got engaged. John would later get married on the 10th of May, 1947. His second son –Raymond-- would appear in a news article published on the 31st of January 1948, that his marriage to Valma Rae would be on the 7th of February, at 3:30pm. His youngest son William was engaged to Peggy Ann.
Baxendale died at the age of 90, on the 15th of April 1981. He was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia.
Click images to start slideshow.