Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Duncan and Margaret SYME
Resided Hampstead Road, Auburn, NSW

SOLDIER'S MEMORIAL PHOTO.
In memory of their late workmate, Pte. Leslie Syme, who fell fighting for his country in France, the "Mercury" staff secured a handsome enlarged photo, of the young soldier. This has been framed and hung in a conspicuous position in the workroom, over the spot where young Syme worked up to the time he enlisted. On the two top corners are flags of the, Empire, together , with the words: — "Pro Rege et Patria" (For King and Country). On the lower portion appears the following inscription: — "Duncan Leslie Syme, Killed in Action in France, July 1916. A tribute by the 'Mercury' staff." Through the years to come the memorial will remind those associated with the office of one who was of bright disposition, a true comrade, and a faithful soldier possessed of Australian dash and daring.

CORPL. LES SYME AS COOK.
Writing to the "Mercury," from Egypt, under date of February 23, Corporal Leslie Syme, late of this office, says: — "Here am I, camped on the historic battlefield of Tel-el-Kebir, with the returned heroes from the peninsula. I have seen all the old Lithgow boys who are over here with the first brigade. "Charlie" Scott is acting regimental policeman for his battalion, but, of course, will go back among the boys when there is anything doing. He is looking very fit. "Joe" McPhee is not so fat as when he was in the small arms factory, but is in good nick ail the same. 'Bummy' Mantle is A1, and so is 'Bert' Champion. 'Dan' Rowe, from the Vale of Clwydd, is in my battalion and comes round to the 'babbling brooks' (the cooks) for meals. I am now company cook. I took it for a week to relieve a man who was sick, and as my section were not on drill it threw me out of a job. The company sergt.-major, in a joking way, offered me a job as cook, and got a shock when I accepted it. Of course it was just my luck to bump ' Charlie' Scott and a lot more of the boys when I was as black as the ace of spades, and needless to say they gave me a good looking up and down. One of my fellow cooks is wearing a hat that belonged to poor 'Andy' Tait. 'Charlie' Scott gave me a 'Mercury ' with 'Andy's' photo, in it, and I lent it to this cook to look at. To my surprise, he informed me that when he returned from hospital in England he was given 'Andy's' hat with his name inside of it. I would have swapped him hats, but it was pretty dirty through cooking.
"I am in a new battalion now, which is an unusual occurrence, but a wise military one. I am with the second battalion. We are camped close to the cemetery containing the remains of the lads who fell many years ago in the Soudan war. We go over the old trenches on Sundays and dig up all kinds of curios in the way of badges, etc. The drill is pretty  solid, but it is a treat to do it under the splendid ofiicers we now have. To see a whole brigade march over the desert and carry out different movements is a sight well worth seeing, and more so to take part in." He concludes with best wishes to all old friends.