MASTERS, Leonard
| Service Number: | 1079 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 May 1915, An original member of C Company 20th Bn. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Longford, Tasmania, Australia, 2 June 1886 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engine driver |
| Died: | Illness, 5th Australian General Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 18 April 1917, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Church of England, Compartment M, Section 28, Grave 06. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 29 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1079, 20th Infantry Battalion, An original member of C Company 20th Bn. | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 1079, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 1079, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 18 Apr 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 1079, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1079 awm_unit: 20 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-04-18 |
Help us honour Leonard Masters's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Leonard Masters was born in Tasmania and he enlisted in the Australian Naval Force in 1909. On his AIF enlistment papers he stated he had served 5.5 years RN and RAN (time expired), when he joined up in Sydney in May 1915.
Leonard was the son of William and Mary Ann Masters of Longford, Tasmania. His mother died during 1890 and his father passed away in Tasmania a few months before he enlisted.
Leonard served at Gallipoli with the 20th Battalion for about three months before being sent to France. He was promoted to Corporal and Sergeant. He was severely wounded at Pozieres when a piece of shrapnel hit him in the forehead and caused a compound fracture of the skull on 3 August 1916. He underwent a number of operations in England before he was returned to Australia 13 February 1917, and he died in Melbourne of suppurative cerebritis 18 April 1917.
His oldest brother, 7313 Pte. Edward George Masters 12th Battalion AIF was later killed in action on 25 July 1918, aged 36.
Another brother, Charles Masters of Tasmania, wrote to the AIF in 1920 and stated he was the only surviving member of the family. As such he received all of Leonard’s medals and effects.
Click images to start slideshow.