Leslie Hope Burgess

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 05/04/2015 - 15:12

First Name:

Leslie

Middle Name:

Hope

Last Name:

Burgess

Mother's Name:

Emily Burgess (nee Alger)

Father's Name:

Alfred Burgess

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, October 12, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

17th Battalion

Company:

17th Reinforcement

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, October 18, 1943

Place of Death:

Hornsby, N.S.W.

Details:

Leslie Burgess (Service No 6042) was born in Unanderra around 1894, and was the younger brother of Walter Frederick Burgess who also served in World War I.

Leslie and Walter attended Unanderra Public School, and both are remembered on the school Honour Roll.

Leslie enlisted when he was 27 years old, when he was employed as a Time Keeper, single and living at Blayney, N.S.W. He had previously served with a Rifle Militia for 2 years. His next of kin, his father Alfred, was living in Robert Street, Corrimal, N.S.W. at this time.

Leslie embarked from Sydney with the 17th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement, on HMAT A11 Ascanius, on 25th October, 1916.

After disembarking at Devonport, UK on 28th December, 1916, Leslie proceeded to France on 9th April, 1917. Leslie was wounded in action while serving in France on 3rd October, 1918, sustaining shrapnel wounds to his thigh and right shoulder. He was evacuated to England for treatment.

On 21st March, 1919 he married 25 year old Janet Falconer Anderson of Dunfermline, Scotland, a tobacconist's assistant.

Leslie returned to Australia per 'Katoomba' in August 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on 21st November, 1919.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BURGESS L H