The AIF Project

Leslie William KING

Regimental number175
Place of birthMelbourne, Victoria
SchoolState School, Newport, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressNewport, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19.3
Height5' 7.25"
Weight132 lbs
Next of kinFather, F King, 394 Melbourne Road, Newport, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in Naval Reserve, Williamstown; previously rejected for enlistment on account of varicose veins.
Enlistment date8 May 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit nameNo 1 Australian General Hospital
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board A62 Wandilla on 25 June 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll13th Field Ambulance
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular'Endeavoured to enlist 4 times. Wounded at Gallipoli Nov 1915. Wounded in France in Neck (unreported). Known as most persistent in duty, and the man who never "ducked" at a shell.' (details from father)
FateDied of wounds 8 May 1918
Place of burialSt Pierre Cemetery (Plot XIII, Row A, Grave No 2), Amiens, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
183
Medals

Military Medal

'During the operations 26th September, 1917, this man set a splendid example of coolness and courage to his fellow bearers while carrying back wounded from R.A.P. in HANEBECK VALLEY, east of YPRES, through heavy shell fire.' Second entry reads: 'For bravery and devotion to duty as a stretcher bearer during the operations near ZONNEBEKE area, east of YPRES on 13th October, 1917, especially under the following circumstances: On the morning of date mentioned whilst the enemy was heavily shelling the line of evacuation from the Cordial Factory ZONNEBEKE to St. Joseph's Institute, Private KING unaided, very courageously, on three separate occasions carried to shelter, men who had been wounded between these positions. He showed the greatest courage and endurance by these actions and set a fine example to his fellow stretcher bearers.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95
Date: 27 June 1918

Family/military connectionsCousins: 171A Pte Wallace Bruce DUNCAN, 2nd Field Ambulance, killed in action, 17 April 1918; 5094 Corporal Valdemar PETERSEN MM, 4th Divisional Signal Company, returned to Australia, 30 January 1918.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, KING Leslie William
Red Cross File 1520201B

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