Leyshon, James Alfred
52 Corporal James Alfred Leyshon - 44th Battalion AIF
James was born in 1888 in Bendigo Victoria to William and Margaret Leyshon, being one of six siblings, with, Annie 1882, William 1885, Lyla 1889, Linda 1891 and Harry 1895.
The family moved to WA in the 1900's and took up residence in North Fremantle, at "Winstone" Mason Street.
James took up employment as a boilermaker in Kalgoorlie for five years and then from 1912-1914 worked for the WA Government Railways.
James married Mabel Gibson in Fremantle in 1916.
On the 3rd January 1916 Harry 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 9 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 135lbs;
Chest Measurement - 35-37 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Hazel;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Harry was sent to Claremont Camp where he was assigned to "A" Company with the regimental number 52. His brother Harry had the regimental number 53.
He trained with the 44th Battalion for the next few months in WA while they waited for the departure orders to arrive. These finally came though and on the 6th June 1916 the 44th Battalion boarded the transport ship HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour. The journey to England took just over six weeks and the ship arrived at Plymouth Harbour on the 21st July 1916.
After being disembarked the 44th Battalion were sent to the 3rd Division Training area on the Salisbury Plains and remained there till November 1916. During this time the men were also given leave and Harry would have seen London or other parts of England. While in training in England James was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal.
On the 25th November the 44th Battalion arrived at Southampton Harbour where they boarded a transport ship for the journey across the Channel to France. After their arrival they were sent to the Armentieres region where they remained until March 1917.
On the 9th February 1917 James was sent to hospital were it was found he was suffering from myalgia but fortunately it was not serious and he returned to the 44th Battalion a week later.
On the 13th March 1917 the 44th Battalion conducted a trench raid on German positions and James came through the action safely. He was then promoted to Corporal a few weeks later. On the 8th April 1917 James was then sent to the 3rd Australian Division School for two weeks of instruction. He returned to his unit at Ploegsteert in Belgium on the 22nd April 1917.
On the 11th May 1917 James had an injury to his face while in the line but was treated at the Field Ambulance and returned to his unit a week later. A few days before the Messines action of the 6th June 1917, the 44th battalion raided the German trenches at Ploegsteert. During the action James was shot through the arm, and after treatment at the Field Ambulance, he was sent to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne. Fortunately the wound was not severe and after several days, James returned to the 44th Battalion on the 16th June 1917.
The 44th battalion were then in the Messines vicinity, but the following day on the 17th June 1917, James was sent to England to take on a temporary role at the 11th Training Battalion.
In July 1917 James was added to the permanent staff at the 11th Training Battalion at Tidworth Camp. He would remain here for the next few months and then on the 5th November 1917 was transferred to the 10th Training Battalion at Fovant. He was here for the next few months and in March 1918 was transferred to the 9th Training Battalion.
James was assigned to the AIF Depots in the UK on the 10th April 1918 but appeared to have remained at the 9th Training Battalion for much of 1918, except for a secondment to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell.
On the 25th January 1919 James returned to Australia aboard the transport ship Ceramic and set sail from home, arriving at Fremantle on the 3rd March 1919. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 23rd April 1919.
He returned home to North Fremantle and then resumed his employment as a boilermaker at the State Implement Works in North Fremantle. They then moved to 6 Ainslie Road in North Fremantle.
A son Warwick was born in 1921 followed by Kenneth born in 1926 and William in 1927.
Sadly James died in Fremantle Hospital on the 12th August 1930 aged 43. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery.