Barry Lyndon LESLIE
Geoffrey Heydon LESLIE's younger brother, Barry Lyndon LESLIE (1898-1969), joined the AIF in July 1916. He stated he was aged 19 and was Blacksmith living at Auburn. His parents were Albert Lewis LESLIE a local farmer (variously listed as Berrewherre, Jervis Bay, Tomerong, Wandandian), sometimes known as Jack Leslie, and Evelyn Wright. The family came to manage Octavius Beale’s farm at Lake McKenzie, now the Jervis Bay Botanic Gardens, about 1901 from Manilla north of Tamworth.
Barry trained at Cootamundra and Kiama before embarking on the 'Benalla' in November and arriving in England in early 1917. He joined the 39th Battalion, but later transferred to the 3rd Battalion, the same as his older brother Geoff.
On 20 September 1917 Barry was wounded with a gunshot wound to the head and right arm. The following day his brother was wounded and would lose an eye. Barry Leslie returned to the 3rd Battalion in France in March 1918 but was wounded for a third time the following month and admitted to Hospital at Boulogne and then Le Havre. On 24 August 1918, Barry was the victim of a gas attack and invalided to Bath in England. He received two weeks leave in September and spent further time in Hospital in the next few months.
Barry Leslie returned to Australia on the 'Ceramic' in January 1919 and settled in Sydney before moving to North Queensland. He died at Babinda, between Innisfail and Cairns, in October 1969 aged 71. His service is commemorated on the Auburn RSL Memorial Honour Roll and the Nowra Showground Memorial Gates. [1]
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Notes and References
- ↑ Tomerong Anzacs "I've had my fling" : the story of the men who enlisted for World War I associated with the NSW South Coast village of Tomerong (v4.5). R Blair, Tomerong, N.S.W. Tomerong Genealogy Datbase R2123.
Images
- Bherwerre Farm 1 TP5344.
- Bherwerre Farm 2 TP5344.
- Bherwerre Farm 3 TP5333.
- School Certificate TP5350.
- Shoalhaven Honor Roll TP3410.
- Origin Map TP6266.
Links
- Tomerong Local History Web Page- tomeronghistory.com
- Tomerong Past Facebook Album- Tomerong Past Facebook This site may provide more information relative to this family. Check the 'Families' and 'Monuments' albums and those institutions that the family contributed to e.g. 'School', 'Sawmills', 'Clyde Shire' etcetera.
- Tomerong Anzacs- Tomerong Anzacs
