Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Leslie Leonard Dunkley
Service Number: 6498
Place of Birth: Kapunda
Date of Birth: 15 January 1885
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 22 August 1916
Age at Enlistment: 30 years 2 months
Next of Kin: Mother- Sophia Dunkley / Greenock
Occupation: Commercial Traveller
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Private 10th Battalion
Les was the eldest son of George and Sophia Dunkley of Greenock. They were
storekeepers on the site of the present Greenock General Store. Upon leaving
school he worked in his parents’ store for nine years delivering goods to local
households prior to working for Messrs. Drummond Bros as a driver mainly on
Yorke Peninsula and the lower north of South Australia.
He was granted a farewell social in Greenock in October 1916 organised by
the Greenock Lodge[ of which he was a member] and residents of Greenock,
where he was presented with a wrist watch by the Lodge and speeches were
made wishing him well and safe return to our shores.1
Leslie’s unit, the 21st Reinforcements / 10th Battalion sailed from Melbourne
on HMAT A 16 Port Melbourne on 21 October 1916. Shortly after arriving in
34
England to undertake further training he was admitted with mumps to
Parkhouse Hospital for three weeks.
Leslie was sent to France on 19 April 1917. He was wounded in action,
sustaining shrapnel wounds to the head, scalp and nose in Belgium on 20
September, necessitating his evacuation to England where he was admitted to
hospital in Birmingham for two weeks of treatment. Army Base Records in
Melbourne notified his mother of Leslie’s condition on 10 October.
On 8 February 1918 he rejoined his unit in France. Leslie was killed in action in
France on 24 July and was buried at La Kreule British Cemetery due north of
Hazebrouck, Northern France. He was 33 years old.
Dunkley’s death notice appeared in The Advertiser Friday, July 25 1919: “In
loving memory of my dear brother Private L.L. Dunkley, killed in action in
France, 24th July 1918.”- inserted by his sister Ruby. His parents Mr. and Mrs.
Geo. Dunkley also inserted a death notice the same day as Ruby.
Two photos of his grave-site were sent to Leslie’s mother Sophia, being next
of kin on 1 May 1919. However, Leslie’s Memorial Scroll, Memorial Plaque and
British War medal were sent to his father in November 1924, displaying once
again the Army’s policy of ignoring the mother as next of kin in respect of a
soldier’s campaign medals.
The Register of Thursday 12 September 1918 stated: “Killed in action in France
24th July, No. 6498 Private Leslie L. Dunkley, 10th Battalion, eldest beloved son
of Mr. and Mrs G. Dunkley of Greenock, aged 33 years. Inserted by his
sorrowing parents, sisters and brothers. Deeply mourned.”
Les is commemorated by Les Dunkley road near Shea-Oak Log in the Barossa
Valley.
1 Geoff Saegenschnitter Greenock Community Newsletter Spring 2014.