Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

ON the 9/6/1917 Pte Pardey's name was brought to the attention of Lt Gen WH Birdwood, Corps Commander, for gallant conducte during recent operations.

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
 
One of the saddest gravesites at Sandgate Cemetery.
Let us remember 2 Fallen brothers of The Great War awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery, and 1 returned brother.

On the 12th October 1917, Private Leslie James Pardey, 55th Battalion (Reg No-871), railway employee (temporary hooker-on at the cranes for the N.S.W. Government Railways & Tramways, Bullock Island), from C/O Mrs. J. H. Johnson, 11 Wickham Street, Wickham, New South Wales, Died of Wounds at No.16 USA General Hospital, Le Treport, France, age about 25. Battle of Polygon Wood. Passchendaele Campaign.

No Roll of Honour circular submitted.

No Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing File.

Born at Wickham, New South Wales about 1893 to Albert A (died 12.10.1897, Newcastle, N.S.W., age?), from Grey Street, Wickham, New South Wales, and Margaret Ellen Pardey (re-married as JOHNSON, died 28.1.1940, Teralba, N.S.W., age 76, from 36 Bishopgate Street, Wickham, N.S.W. (1922) and Cooranbong, N.S.W, also sleeping here), Les enlisted on the 26th November 1915 with the 35th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A24 Benalla on the 1st May 1916.

9.6.1917, Routine Order No. 53, name brought to the notice of Corps Commander for gallant conduct during the recent operations.

24.6.1917, to Brigade Bombing School.

Wounded in action - 26.9.1917 (GSW left side, dangerously ill).

Admitted to hospital 4.10.1917.

Les is resting at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, France. Plot III Row O Grave 4B.

Place of Association – Wickham, New South Wales, Australia.

Leslie Pardey’s name has been inscribed on the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919, Wickham Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Wickham (Hawkins Oval) Soldiers' Memorial, Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honour Board, Wickham St. James' Anglican Church Honour Roll, Newcastle Branch (1086) Grand United Order of Oddfellows Roll of Honour  and the Book of Gold.
3 brothers served 1st A.I.F.

Older brother Harold Pardy (born about 1889, Wickham, New South Wales, married carpenter from C/O Mrs. J. H. Johnson, 11 Wickham Street, Wickham, New South Wales, father of Harold Albert, born 26.6.1910, Stockton, N.S.W., died 24.5.2003, enlisted 12.5.1915, 17th Battalion, Reg No-1761, KIA 11.4.1918, Jordan Valley, Palestine, age about 29, 1st Australian Camel Battalion, resting at Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel. Row H Grave 73), also awaiting memorialisation same location. A Memorial cross placed at the gravesite - 10.9.2017.

Younger brother Andrew Pardy (born about 1890, Wickham, New South Wales, blacksmith's striker from C/O Mrs. J. H. Johnson, 11 Wickham Street, Wickham, New South Wales, enlisted 22.7.1915, 30th Battalion, Reg No-510, RTA 9.5.1919, died 2.8.1969, age 71, not officially commemorated), resting same location. Name not inscribed on headstone. Wooden cross erected - 7.11.2017.

Unfortunately, there are no memorial inscriptions on the headstone plaque at parent’s gravesite to tell us of the supreme sacrifice of their sons Harold and Leslie, so September 2017 I placed Memorial crosses adorned with poppies in remembrance of their service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. ANGLICAN 1-46. 57.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

For more detail, see “Forever Remembered“.
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/.

Lest We Forget.

Lesley Pardey  born about November 1883 at Wickham.

He worked for the NSW Railways as a temporary hooker-on at the cranes on Bullock Island.

When he enlisted at Newcastle on 26th November 1915, he was unmarried and gave his mother, Mrs John Johnson of Wickham as his next of kin. He was allotted initially to the 35th Battalion. He embarked HMAT ‘Benalla’ at Sydney on 1st May 1916, reaching Plymouth (England) on 9th July. During the voyage he was convicted of the offence of being Absent Without Leave from 1800 to 2030 on 21/5/16 and was punished with 14 days fatigue duty. Also, during the voyage, he was diagnosed with venereal disease and admitted to the ship’s hospital. The treatment for this condition lasted 50 days and continued at Hilsea Military Hospital after the arrival at Plymouth until 4th August. Then followed postings at No. 1. Command Depot, 9th Training Battalion Perham Downs, and the 5th Training Battalion.
Pardey proceeded overseas to France through Folkestone as reinforcements for the 55th Battalion on 30th November 1916 and was taken on the strength of that unit on 7th December.

On 9th June 1917 it is recorded in  ‘Routine Order No 55 by Lieutenant-General W H Birdwood that his name was brought to the notice of the Corps Commander for gallant conduct during the recent operations.’ The citation is:
‘Whilst in the front line facing QUEANT on night 11th/12th May 1917, Pte. PARDEY showed great coolness and bravery under heavy fire. During an intense enemy bombardment he reconnoitred “No Man’s Land” for some distance at great risk. This man has at all times displayed coolness and courage under fire.’
Later that month he was sent to the Brigade Bombing School. On 26th September 1917 Pardey was wounded with shrapnel to his left side, transferred to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station and then the Ambulance Train before being admitted to the 16th USA General Hospital at Le Treport on 30th September. The wounds were here described at gun shot rather than shrapnel wounds, and Pardey died of those wounds on 12th October 1917. He was buried at Mont Huon Cemetery, Le Treport.
A pension of 32/6 per fortnight was granted to his mother, Margaret Ellen Johnson. from 16th December 1917.

- based on the Australian War  Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.