Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Biography: Herbert Leighton Cleworth

Herbert Leighton Cleworth, son of Walter Henry Cleworth and Ada Louise Leighton was a man who resided in North Norwood, South Australia and partook in the ANZAC campaign in World War 1 (1).

Herbert Leighton Cleworth was naturally born on the 31st of January 1893, in Milang, a town situated on the shore of Lake Alexandrina, 20km from Strathalbyn (1). Before his enlistment, he was a normal young adult, enjoying his 20s, living in North Norwood while working as a wholesale warehouseman. His religion was Congregational, and he was not married (3). On his enlistment papers, Cleworth listed his next of kin as Walter Henry Cleworth, who was his father (3).

On the 1st of October 1916, Herbert Leighton enlisted in the AIF (Australian Imperial Forces) as a mature 24-year-old, with the sole intent to help the Australian Campaign in the First World War. Herbert Leighton’s initial rank at the time of enlisting was 2nd Lieutenant 1 (3). He obtained this rank at enlistment as he had served in the AIF previously (1). At the enlistment, he was assigned to the 10th Infantry Battalion and the 25th Reinforcement (1).

Over a year after enlisting, on the 30th of October 1917, Herbert Leighton Cleworth boarded the ship HMAT A60 Aeneas from Davenport, South Australia to England (1). Davenport is located near Port Augusta. He marched into the 2nd Training Battalion from school instruction Candahar Barracks, which is located in Tidworth on the 13th of March 1918. He stayed at the Candahar Barracks for just over a month (1).

On the 18th of April 1918, Herbert Leighton Cleworth received orders to proceed to France by ship via Southampton (1). He left England for France on the 20th of April 1918 (1). As he had served in the AIF before, Cleworth received a higher pay than others, totalling at a daily rate of 15 shillings a day before embarkation and a daily rate of 14 shillings, 6 pence after embarkation (2). Arriving at France, he proceeded to his unit two days later on the 22nd of April 1918 (1). His unit was the 10th Infantry Battalion and he was part of the 25th reinforcement (1). This battalion took part in the bitter trench warfare (2).

After roughly around one and a half months of service in France, Cleworth received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, from 2nd Lieutenant on the 1st of June 1918 (1).  Six days after receiving the promotion in rank, Cleworth was injured in action. He received shrapnel wounds to the thighs and they were pronounced severe by the doctors. Cleworth was admitted to London General Hospital Wards (1).

Cleworth stayed at the London General Hospital for over 6 months, recovering from the severe wounds to his thighs. On the 16th of January 1919, Cleworth left England, bound for Melbourne, Australia on board the Demosthenes Hospital Transport Ship (1). One month later, on the 26th of February 1919, Cleworth returned to Melbourne safely. Upon returning to Australia, he received the Victory Medal, and the British War Medal for his service in the AIF. The last heard from Cleworth was when he applied for the R.A.A.F in 1942 (1).

ANZAC spirit can be described in many ways including mateship, courage, ingenuity, endurance and good humour. Cleworth displayed ANZAC spirit by partaking in the Australian campaign of WW1. Herbert Leighton Cleworth was ready for the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good of his country. This was a great show of courage and determination, ready to fight for the good cause. He received 3 medals upon returning to Australia and also earnt a promotion from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant during the war, which displayed his efforts and determination to help the ANZACs. Cleworth saw the need for soldiers to support the ANZAC campaign and gave up his job and left his family to go help the ANZACs which was an excellent show of loyalty towards Australia and its allies.

(1)=http://www.naa.gov.au/ (2)=https://www.awm.gov.au/ 

(3)= https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/

Bibliography:

Herbert Leighton Cleworth n.d., Australian War Memorial, accessed 6 March 2018, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1833787

Herbert Leighton Cleworth n.d., accessed 6 March 2018, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=3256644&S=2&N=21&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=3256644&T=P&S=21

Herbert Leighton Cleworth 2016, accessed 6 March 2018, https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=55452

Herbert Leighton CLEWORTH n.d., Australia, accessed 6 March 2018, https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/167042

Herbert Leighton Cleworth n.d., Australia, accessed 6 March 2018, https://trove.nla.gov.au/result?q=Herbert+Leighton+Cleworth
State Records of South Australia 2018, South Australia, accessed 6 March 2018, https://www.archives.sa.gov.au/search/node/herbert%20leighton%20cleworth

Herbert Leighton Cleworth 2018, South Australia, accessed 6 March 2018, https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/soldier/herbert-leighton-cleworth

Demosthenes Ship n.d., Photograph, State Library Of Queensland, accessed 25 March 2018, http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/ww1/2015/10/18/sister-greta-towner-sea-transport-nursing/

First London General Hospital n.d., Photograph, Anonymous, accessed 25 March 2018, https://www.flickr.com/photos/robmcrorie/8282749053

A60 Aeneas n.d., Photograph, Anonymous, accessed 25 March 2018, https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/149155

Tidworth - Candahar Barracks n.d., Photograph, Anonymous, accessed 25 March 2018, https://get.google.com/albumarchive/101345661794517075914/album/AF1QipPpCovIM-wS-X-JSoTnWAyixO0l4xVlGf4-abGS