STIMSON, Leslie Norman
| Service Number: | 18944 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 7th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 16 April 1891 |
| Home Town: | Petersham, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 6 June 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert, Wallonie, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Hornsby War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 May 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 18944, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 18944, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Lesley Norman STIMSON (Service Number 18944) was born on 16th April 1891 at Sydney. He commenced work for the NSW Railways as a casual cleaner, the first step on the career path to driver, at Murrurundi Locomotive Depot on 25th February 1913. In April he became permanent. In September he progressed to fireman. In 1915 he relocated to Eveleigh Locomotive Depot. He enlisted in Sydney in January 1916. He gave his father, William Stimpson of Lewisham, as his next of kin. He also claimed six months’ military experience with the Australian Rifles.
At first he was allotted to the 5th Reinforcements to the 2nd Divisional Artillery Column and given the rank of Gunner. On 1st April 1916 he was allocated to the 27th Battery of the 7th Field Artillery Brigade. Stimson embarked HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ at Sydney on 11th May 1916 and reached Devonport(Egland) on 10th July. During the voyage he had been hospitalised for a few days with an injury to his neck and shoulder caused by a slip and fall down a companionway. He spent the next months in England training. He was hospitalised with mumps. He proceeded overseas to France through Southampton on 29th December and transferred to the 26th Battery on 6th January 1917.
Stimson was killed in action on 6th June 1917 and buried in the Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert Wood, 2¼ miles SSW of Messines.
Bombardier O.R Cadell (18642) reported:
‘He was killed at Ploegsteert being hit in the head by a piece of high explosive shell and dying instantaneously. I assisted to bury him in the cemetery near Charing Cross Dressing Station. There is a cross erected on his grave.’
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.