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SCRUTTON, Leslie Cambridge
| Service Number: | 4269 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery |
| Born: | Petersburg, South Australia, Australia, 12 December 1894 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Springbank, South Australia. , 9 May 1957, aged 62 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Payneham District Council Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4269, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 4269, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 4269, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 7 Oct 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery, He was transferred from the 50th Battalion back to the 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery | |
| 26 Dec 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion, He Transferred from the 10th infantry Battalion to the 50th infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion, Leslie was taken on a strength run | |
| 26 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4269, 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery, He was wounded in France, suffering gunshot wounds to the hand and forearm | |
| 23 Jun 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery, He was admitted to the 1st Convalescent depot, Rouelles. He suffered Gunshot wounds to the forearm and hand. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 4269 | |
| 29 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 4269, 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 4269, 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Leslie Cambridge Scrutton
Life Before the War
Leslie Cambridge Scrutton was a tremendous war hero of his time. He was born on the 12th of December, 1894 in Peterborough, South Australia. Leslie had 6 siblings, 2 girls, and 4 boys. Leslie had a brother that he never met named Harold as he was born in 1890 and died in 1891. Leslie was then the oldest child in the family. He had a younger sister, named Stella (born in 1896), another younger sister, named Ethel (born in 1898), a younger brother, named Norman (born in 1902) and the youngest child in the family, Kenneth being born in Kenneth. Leslie’s Mother, Isabella Humphyrys Scrutton, was born in 1868. Leslie’s Father, Herbert James Scrutton, was born in 1866. Herbert died at the age of 56, in 1922 and Isabella died at the age of 85, in 1953. Before Leslie went to war, he was a carpenter.
In the War
Leslie enlisted for the war on the 7th of August, 1915 and didn’t join the army until the 12th of August, 1915. The reason being as to why Australia was in the war in the first place, was due to the fact that they were forced to. This was because Australia was under the command of the British empire, however, some Australians joined at their own free will or to make their families proud. At the time of joining, he was 20 years and 8 months. At the time of joining, he was at the legal age. He received the number 4269 for his service number. He was allocated to the 10th Infrantry Battalion for his unit, however, his unit from the nominal roll was the 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery.
After being given his rolls for the war, there was only one thing to do, “go to the war”. He embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on the 11th of January, 1916. He was on board the HMAT A30 Borda. On February, the 26th, 1916, he was transferred to the 50th Battalion. 3 days later, he was Taken on Strength, with the 50th Battalion. His first journey was to Zeitoun on the 29th of February, 1916. This area was for training.
Events that Leslie participated in was the Western Front. He went to the western front, France, 8 different times. The first time was in 1917 on the 8th of April until the 20th of April. One year later, on the 26th of April, 1918, he was wounded. He suffered gunshot wounds to the hand and the forearm. On the 23rd of June, 1918, he was admitted to the 1st Convalescent Depot in Rouelles suffering from gunshot wounds to the forearm and hand.
Leslie Cambridge Scrutton was in the hospital for just under 3 months. He re-joined the 13th Light Trench Mortar Battery on the 14th of July, 1918. Leslie was very active in his service with several casualties. In 1919, on the 7th of May, he received the good news which was that he was advised to return back home, to Australia. He took their advice an decided to return home 22 days later, on the 29th of May, 1919.
He safely returned home from the violent and unforgiving war.
Life After The War
Soon after Leslie returned home, he had a child named Gwenneth Shirley Scrutton in 1921. This was two years after the war. Leslie did not get married after having a child. Sadly, Leslie’s daughter died, at the age of 19, in 1940. This would have had been a tragic event for Leslie. After this event, he lived out his life until 1957.
Leslie Cambridge Scrutton sadly died on the 8th of May, 1957 at the age of 62. Also, in 1957, his younger brother, Albert, died. Leslie will never be forgotten after what he did in the war and most importantly, what he did for his country and family. He was a memorable soldier with several casualties to the opposing sides and even after he got shot in the line of fire on the battlefield, he re-joined the fight to serve his country.
Anzac Spirit
Leslie Cambridge Scrutton is an ideal ANZAC. ANZAC is an acronym that stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The qualities/traits that make a true ANZAC are, endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and mateship, which is shown on and off of the battlefield. I truly believe that Leslie was a True ANZAC and a great/ideal ANZAC.
In the end, Leslie served his country an family proudly on the battlefield receiving two medals, the first was the British star meal and the second, was the Victory medal which each soldier received who were involved on or off of the battlefield.
Leslie was buried in the Cheltenham Cometary which is located in Charles Sturt city in South Australia, Australia.
We salute you, Leslie Cambridge Scrutton.
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