Thomson, Leslie Alexander

1461 Gunner Leslie Alexander Thomson - 36th Heavy Artillery Group

Leslie Alexander Robert Thomson was born in Fremantle Western Australia in May 1897 to Alexander and Mary Thomson. He was the eldest of five children with, Rubie (1902), Keith (1904), Ronald (1907) and George (1909).

The family lived at 39 Thomas Street South Fremantle (now 15 Thomas).

Leslie was educated locally in Fremantle and after leaving school he took up employment as a salesman. During these early years he had served with the cadets and then continued with the 11th Garrison Artillery.

When the Great War commenced the reservist Gunners such as Leslie were called up to replace the permanent gunners who were being sent overseas. So from 1915 to 1918 Leslie was serving at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks and gun emplacements around the Harbour such as Fort Forrest.

Les was till wanting to serve overseas and on the 17th April 1918 was able to enlist as a reinforcement to the Artillery Siege Brigade.

The medical examiner who passed him as fit, recorded Les's details as;

Height - 5 feet 8 inches;

Weight - 162lbs;

Chest Measurement - 38 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Hazel;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment, Leslie and the other recruits for the Siege Artillery were sent to Sydney to complete their training. 

On the 17th July 1918 Les embarked from Sydney on the transport ship HMAT Borda. The ship then set sail for England, sailing via South Africa. When the ship arrived in Cape Town, Les was disembarked as he was suffering from pneumonia. He had a few weeks in hospital in Cape Town and when he had recovered was released on the 9th September 1918. He had to wait a few more weeks for an available troopship and on the 26th September 1918 was sent aboard the New Zealand Transport Ship Ruahine which took him to England, disembarking on the 29th October 1918.

Les was then sent into the Australian Heavy Artillery camp at Devonport. The Armistice was signed while Les was still in England but on the 21st November 1918 he was sent to France and joined the 36th Heavy Artillery Group, being taken on strength of the 1st Siege Battery. Though the war was over there were still many duties to perform as the unit would remain in France for another six months.

Les remained with the unit until it was dissolved in France. He was then sent back to England in May 1919.

On the 12th July 1919 Les boarded the transport ship City of Exeter and returned to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 16th August 1919.

He was discharged from the AIF on the 1st September 1919.

In 1923 in Fremantle Les married Annie Baird and a daughter Jean was born in 1924. The family lived in Chudleigh Street Fremantle and Les was working as a storeman.

In the 1930's the family were living in Katanning where Les was working as a salesman before moving back to North Fremantle in the 1940's. The family moved again after a few years, going to live in Inglewood.

Les died on the 14th December 1971 aged 74 and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot General EA 0209.