Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

3281 Leslie SNEYD (Killed in action 5 November 1916)

Leslie Sneyd was born at Mount Gambier on 14 December 1893, the son of George Coleman and Ellen Sneyd. He was enrolled at Mount Gambier High School in December 1907 by his father, George Coleman Sneyd, saddler, of William Street, Mount Gambier. He left the school on 30 March 1909 (1) and subsequently attended the Adelaide School of Mines where he trained as a draughtsman. He joined the South Australian Railways in 1911 as a junior porter (2) and at the time of his enlistment was working for the Engineer-in-Chief’s Department of the Railways in Adelaide.

He enlisted (21, draughtsman, single, Church of England) on 4 August 1915, naming his mother Ellen Sneyd of Mount Gambier as his next of kin. He was one of the North Adelaide footballers leaving for the war who were entertained at the North Adelaide Institute and presented with a money belt (3).

He embarked from Adelaide on the ‘Medic’ on 12 January 1916 as a Private attached to the 7th Reinforcements to the 27th Battalion and disembarked in Egypt about a month later. He embarked from Alexandria on the ‘Oriana’ on 21 March 1916, disembarked at Marseilles on 27 March, and joined the 27th Battalion near Armentieres on 2 May 1916 where he was involved in the battalion’s attacks on the German lines near Pozieres in late July and early August for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His commendation reads:

During the attack on Pozieres Ridge on 4/5 August, 1916, he did valuable observation work from dangerous positions displaying coolness and courage. He went back from the advanced captured positions through shell-fire and brought up water and rations

for his comrades. After his Battalion had been withdrawn he volunteered for and performed work as a stretcher-bearer under difficult conditions for several hours.

He was promoted to Corporal on 5 August 1916 and was killed during the battalion attack on German positions near Montauban on 5 November. Early in 1917 Mr and Mrs Sneyd received a letter from 3294 Private Arthur Leslie Walters (4) giving an account of their son’s death:

On the 5th November, at 0.15, we went over the top; it was, terrible seeing the poor fellows falling round us. We got over to the German trench, and had to start with the bombs to keep them back. Les did splendid work bombing until we ran short of bombs, and had to use Fritz's bombs that he had left in the trench. We held the trench for two hours, but then had to retire to our own line. Just as Les was leaving the German trench a bomb struck him on the head, and I believe killed him out-right (5).

After the war his remains were exhumed and reinterred in Warlencourt British Cemetery, Warlencourt-Eaucourt, Arras, Nord Pas de Calais, France.

Reference List 

1. Mount Gambier High School Admissions Register, 58.

2. Border Watch, 20 December 1916, p.4.

3. Border Watch, 6 October 1915, p.3.

4. Walters was originally from Penola and was killed on 2 September 1918 during the attack near Mont St Quentin.

5. Border Watch, 31 January 1917, p.2.

Published in 'Ours: the origins and early years of Mount Gambier High School and Old Scholars who served in the Great European War' by Graeme Roulstone

Son of George Coleman Sneyd and Ellen Sneyd, of 4, Blyth St., Parkside, Adelaide, South Australia.

HE DIED THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE

THE LATE CORPORAL LES. SNEYD, D.C.M.

"Mr. and Mrs, G. C. Sneyd, of Mount Gambier, have been officially informed that their youngest son, Corporal Leslie Sneyd, D.C.M., was killed in action in France on November 5th. The deceased soldier, who was educated at the Mount Gambier State and High schools, was 23 years of age. In 1911 he joined the South Australian Railways as a junior porter. He studied at the School of Mines, and was successful at the railway clerical examination. He then entered the Passenger Superintendent's office. Continuing his studies, he entered for and passed, the railway professional examination, and was transferred to the Engineer-in-Chief's office. There he was employed until the time of his enlistment on August 4, 1915. He left for Egypt the following January, where he was stationed until March. He accompanied his battalion to France, where he remained until the time of his death. He fought in Belgium and France, and took part in the now famous attack on Pozieres, where he fought continuously for 50 hours. Subsequently he was made a corporal and decorated with the D.C.M. by General Birdwood for conspicuous gallantry in observation work, carrying water and rations, and stretcher-bearing. He found his knowledge of "first aid" gained in the railway of great value to his wounded comrades. He was a member of the North Adelaide Football Club, and won the high jump and hurdle race at the battalion sports at Morphettville. He was also selected to represent the battalion at the military sports in France, winning the high jump and obstacle race." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 30 Dec 1916 (nla.gov.au)