Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

6404 Acting Sergeant Leslie John Gray

Leslie, a 20 year old Switchboard Attendant/Electrical Engineering Student, was the son of Charles and Emily Jane (nee Hogben) Gray. Charles Gray managed the prosperous C.W.Gray & Co. Store in Manoora until he moved to Parkside in 1912.

Leslie enlisted on 13 August 1915 and was initially appointed to C Company 2nd Depot Battalion and two months later transferred to 1st Depot Battalion. A fortnight later he was transferred to Mitcham Camp as a signaller with the rank of Sapper. At some stage after this he was posted to 15th Reinforcements 3rd Field Company Engineers and moved to the School of Military Engineering at Moore Park in Sydney. At Moore Park all elements of the Engineers undertook their training prior to embarkation.

On 20 March 1916 Leslie embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT A26 Armadale bound for the Middle East where he disembarked at Alexandria on 24 April and joined the Miscellaneous Reinforcements at Tel-el-Kebir. Within seven weeks Leslie had again boarded ship, this time on board SS Caledonia as reinforcement for the 1st Division in France. Six months later the Caledonia was sunk when torpedoed by a German U Boat. In France he was quartered at the 1st AIF Base Depot at Etaples where he was transferred and taken on strength of 3rd Field Company Engineers. As part of the 1st Division Leslie was to see action on the Western Front in France and Belgium.

Leslie was granted two weeks leave to the United Kingdom in October of 1917 but four days later, after returning to France, was admitted to hospital with venereal disease. After eighteen days he was discharged from 39th General Hospital at Boulogne to Base Details. He rejoined his unit on 20 November and shortly after was promoted to Lance Corporal. On 14 March Leslie was detached from 3rd Field Company Engineers for 2 weeks duty at the Lewis Gun School. A week after rejoining his unit Leslie reported sick to 3rd Field Ambulance and two days later was admitted to 3 General Hospital. Suffering from Tachycardia he was invalided from France to the UK on the hospital ship HMHS Guildford Castle.

In England Leslie was admitted to the Exeter War Hospital for three weeks before being discharged to No3 Command Depot at Hurdcott. In August he was transferred to No1 Depot at Sutton Veny and then, a month later, to the Overseas Training Brigade.

Leslie attended the 24th Lewis Gun Course held at the Australian School of Musketry from 31 September to 14 November 1918 and qualified 1st Class.

While Leslie was on the course the war had ended. On 30 November he was taken on strength of Headquarters AIF Depots in the UK and three days later promoted to Acting Corporal. In February 1919 Leslie was again promoted, this time to Acting Sergeant. Leslie was to spend the next eight months on duty in England before returning to Australia on HMAT A71 Nestor. He embarked on 1 November, disembarked in Adelaide on 12 December 1919, and was finally discharged on 4 February 1920.

He married Teresa May Anderson in 1921. Leslie died on 27 June 1958 and is buried in Centennial Park Cemetery.

Son of Charles and Emily Jane (nee Hogben) Gray who managed C.W.Gray & Co. Store in Manoora. Family moved to Parkside in 1912. Name also commemorated on Honour Board at Manoora Soldiers Memorial Supper Room and Honour Board in Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Riverton