Leslie, Arnold George

7498 Private Arnold George Leslie - 11th Battalion AIF

Born in 1893 in Bright Victoria to George and Evaline Leslie, one of several siblings, Ethel (1888), Elizabeth (1889), Emma (1891), Robert (1895), Evaline (1899), Florence (1904) and Lancelot (1910).

The family came to WA in late 1890's as Evaline was born in Fremantle.

He completed his education at Fremantle Boys School and after completing his education found employment as a Shipping Clerk.

The family at this stage were residing at 50 Henderson Street Fremantle as George Leslie was employed as a Warder at Fremantle prison.

On the 7th February 1916, Arnold enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 113lbs;

Chest Measurement - 31-33 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Fair.

Upon his successful enlistment Arnold was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He was initially assigned to a training depot where he was taken through the basics of infantry work. He was then assigned to the Australian Army Service Corps reinforcements but after a few days was posted to the Australian Army Medical Corps. His brother Roert was also with the Medical Corps at this stage.

Arnold and Robert served with the Medical Corps in the various camps in WA from the 16th March 1916 to the 25th January 1917. It appears they then requested a transfer to the infantry and the brothers were transferred to the 25th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.

They trained with this reinforcement group in WA for the next five months. On the 29th June 1917, Arnold and the reinforcement group were entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Borda. The ship then set sail for England and arrived at Plymouth on the 25th August 1917.

The men were then disembarked and sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plains. On the 5th September 1917 Arnold had fallen ill and was sent to Fargo Military Hospital where he was diagnosed with influenza. Fortunately his health improved and he was back in camp on the 18th September 1917.

On the 7th November 1917 Arnold was transferred to the 2nd Training Battalion at Sutton Veny Camp. He trained there for a few more months and on the 30th January 1918 departed for France. This was where the brothers split as Robert Leslie did not leave England till March 1918 and he then was sent to the 51st Battalion, not the 11th Battalion like his brother Arnold.

Arnold Leslie was taken on strength of the 11th Battalion on the 5th February 1918. The unit was then holding the front line south east of Ypres in Belgium.

On the 21^st March 1918 the Germans broke through the Third and Fifth British Armies to the south and were making quick time for Amiens. The Australian Divisions were then  sent south to the Somme to combat this threat. The 1st Australian Division were the last to leave Belgium and had just arrived at Amiens in early April 1918 when news broke of another German breakthrough, this time at the Belgian front where they had just come from. The 1st Australian Division, including the 11th Battalion were then returned north, and met the Germans around the Nieppe Forrest, Hazebrouck and Strazeele.

Through April to July 1918 the 11th Battalion were in action around the French villages of Merris and Meteren.

It is not know how soon Arnold heard of his brothers death at Villers-Bretonneux on the 25th April 1918. This may have been a reason that Arnold was transferred to No.4 Company of the Australian Army Service Corps in June 1918 on the 2nd June 1918.

The 4th Company AASC was responsible for supplying the front line units with rations, equipment etc. and for also helping to transport troops. The 4th Company AASC was attached to the 1st Australian Division and so was in the Merris and Meteren sector till July 1918. In August 1918 they then moved to the Villers-Bretonneux front.

Through August and September 1918 the 4th Company AASC constantly moved forward to bring supplies as with every infantry attack the Germans were forced to withdraw.

On the 18th September 1918 the 1st Australian Division fought their last infantry action of the war. The 1st Division was then withdrawn for a rest period and the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918 before the Division could return to action.

While the 4th Company AASC was around Villers-Bretonneux. Arnold may have looked for his brothers grave, but unfortunately Robert appears to have been buried as an Unknown soldier.

When the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent to what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium. On the 11th January 1919 Arnold was granted leave to England, returning to France on the 25th January 1919. He served with the 4th Coy AASC for another month but on the 25th February 1919 was admitted to hospital. He was diagnosed as suffering from broncho-pneumonia. He was at the 14th General Hospital for two weeks but on the 12th March 1919 was shipped to England and was admitted to Lewisham Military Hospital. Fortunately his condition began to improve and on the 24th March 1919 he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. On the 9th April 1919 he was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp.

His health had improved enough that Arnold's name was put down for a return to Australia. On the 3rd May 1919 Arnold boarded the transport ship Leicestershire and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 11th June 1919.

Arnold was discharged from the AIF on the 16th July 1919.

On his return home Arnold took on further clerical study and soon qualified as an Accountant. He joined Beaconsfield Lodge in 1920 and through the 1920's was living at 154 Hubble Street East Fremantle (now 84-86 Hubble).

Arnold married in 1932 to Ethel Annie Newman who was from Coogee South Fremantle. The wedding took place at Wesley Church Fremantle. They continued residing at Hubble Street for a few years but by 1936 were living at 29 Broome St in Cottesloe. Arnold was working as an Accountant and Company Secretary.

They remained at Broome Street till the 1950's.

Arnold Leslie died on the 19th January 1958 aged 63. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.