Essex, Leslie Francis

No.2404 – Private Leslie Francis Essex – 51^st Battalion AIF

Leslie Francis Essex was born in Perth WA in 1897 to William & Mary Essex of Arundel Street Fremantle. He was one of several siblings and Leslie was educated at CBC Fremantle. After leaving school he began work for the WA Post Office where he worked as a Telephonist. Les was also a member of the 86A Citizen Military Forces cadets. Unfortunately, his father died in Geraldton in 1912, leaving Mary to raise the family.

Les enlisted into the AIF on the 23^rd December 1915 aged just 18. He was passed as fit with the medical officer finding him to be 5 feet 8 inches in height; weight of 123lbs; chest measurement of 34-35 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.

Les was initially allotted to No.42 Depot, and then on the 1^st February 1916 to “A” Company of the 44^th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group at Claremont Showgrounds Camp until June 1916 but did not embark with them when they left WA on the 6^th June 1916. Instead he was transferred to No.22 Depot. Several days later Les was assigned to the 5^th Reinforcements to the 51^st Battalion AIF with the regimental no.2404. His brother Cecil was also in this group with the regimental no.2403. They trained with this reinforcement group in WA until mid September 1916 when they received their orders to depart. On the 20^th September 1916 they boarded the H.M.A.T. “Uganda” in Fremantle Harbour and made their way to England.

After the long sea voyage, they arrived at Plymouth England on the 15^th November 1916. Normally new reinforcements would spend a month or more in England but after just a few weeks at the 13^th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains they were sent to Folkestone Harbour to board a ship to France. On the 13^th December 1916 Les marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. A week was spent here and then Les went and joined the 51^st Battalion in France, being taken on strength on the 19^th December 1916. The 51^st Battalion were then in the vicinity of Flers undergoing the coldest French winter for decades.

As a result of these cold temperatures; on the 26^th February 1917 Les reported sick with frost bite. He was taken back to the 13^th Field Ambulance and then to the 45^th Casualty Clearing Station where he was also treated for a septic leg caused by the frost bite. On the 2^nd April 1917 Les was admitted to the 5^th General Hospital at Rouen. On the 24^th April he departed France for England and was admitted to Tooting Military Hospital and was treated for his frost bitten fingers and toes.

He stayed in this hospital for a month and on the 25^th May was transferred to the 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. It seems he may have returned to Tooting Military Hospital for a few more weeks as he was granted a period of furlough from this hospital and was told to report to No.1 Command Depot at Perham Downs Camp when his leave finished on the 22^nd June. He reported to Camp on time and stayed here for a further month. On the 23^rd July 1917 he left England for France and marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Havre. A few more weeks were spent here and on the 12^th August 1917 he rejoined the 51^st Battalion in Belgium.

On the 26^th August 1917 Les was hit in the head by shrapnel while the Battalion were in the front line at Messines. He was evacuated back to the 13^th Field Ambulance. Unfortunately the wounds were very severe and he died the same day. Les was buried in Kandahar Farm Cemetery Belgium in plot II.F.32.