Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Introduction

Leonard Charles Webb was 25 and 4 months old when his Attestation Paper was completed on the 10th August 1915 and he entered into training in Australia and embarked overseas in December 1915. He was a soldier in the 10th and the 50th Battalion from 1915-1919, fighting in the war and protecting everyone. In these Battalions, he was placed in Egypt and France to go fight in major battles. The 10th Battalion was around one of the first Infantry Battalions raised in South Australia for the AIF. The 50th Battalion had a lot of veterans from the 10th Battalion, one of whom was Leonard Charles Webb. (Australian War Memorial, n.d) Webb married, in 1915 November, one month before he got shipped off to war. After he returned from war, he lived with his wife until she died in 1950, he died many years later in 1983.

 Before the war

Webb was born on March 2nd, 1888, in a family of 13, one of 11 children. His siblings' names were; Olive Francis Louise Webb (1884-1941 Female), Horace James Webb (1885-1974 Male), Cassandra Helena Webb (1889-deceased Female), Medora Azelia Webb (1891-1975 Female), Fannele Edith Rollton Webb (1894-1969), Walter James Webb (1895- diseased Male), Laura Mabel Webb (1897-deceased Female), Frederich Alexander (1899-deceased Male), Adeline Isabelle Webb (1902-deceased Female), and Laurence Malcom Webb (1905-1991 Male) His father’s name was Walter James Webb. His mother's name was Medora Azelia Webb, who was originally listed as his next kin if died in the war but this was changed to his wife before he departed (Ancestors nd). 

Leonard Charles Webb was born in Glenelg, Australia, but his schooling wasn’t discovered. At enlistment he was 5 foot 5 with a weight of 134 lbs with the distinguishing features of a vaccination scar on his left arm and tattoo on his left forearm.

During the War

Leonard Charles Webb embarked on the 2nd of December 1915, on the ship R.M.S. Malwa arriving in Egypt. He had training with the 3rd Training Battalion, to learn how to survive and fight. He was taken on strength to join the 50th Battalion 2nd April 1916.

In 1916, he arrived in France with the 50th Battalion, they fought one of their first major wars at Mouquet Farm in the middle of August. There was another assault which led to another battle but in September. He alternated going on the front lines in the war for other parts of the years and after training as well as laboring in the back lines, ready to go in front this led from 1916 to 1917.  

He was appointed as a Lance Corporal 19th March 1917 which was the lowest rank for non-commissioned officers. In early June 1917, they fought in the battle of Messines and the battle of Polygon Wood in September 1917.

Two years later on the 17th May 1918 he was promoted to the higher rank of Corporal. A few months later 20th September 1918 he was promoted to Acting Sergeant.

Once the war was over, Webb found himself in trouble for being Absent without Leave a couple of times which resulted in his higher rank being taken away. He was also fined for the days he was absent. He left to return home to Australia on 5th April 1919.

After the War

Being discharged from the army in 1920 (Service Record, Australian Archives WWI). Leonard returned to his wife being with he until she died in 1953. Webb lived on for another 30 years, not remarrying, eventually dying at 95 years old.