MATHER, Leslie Francis Strang
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 August 1914, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 5th Divisional Engineers |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 June 1888 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Mechanical engineer |
| Died: | Suicide, France, 23 January 1919, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Solre-le-Chateau Communal Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 1st Field Company Engineers, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Field Company Engineers, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 1st Field Company Engineers, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Battle for Pozières | |
| 2 Jan 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 12 Mar 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 5th Divisional Engineers | |
| 31 Dec 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 23 Jan 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 5th Divisional Engineers | |
| 31 Jan 1919: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches |
Help us honour Leslie Francis Strang Mather's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Leslie Francis Strang MATHER was born on 30th June, 1888 in Victoria
His parents were John MATHER and Jessie Pines BEST who married on 15th September, 1882 in Williamstown, Victoria
He had previous military service with the Royal Australian Engineers before he enlisted for WW1
Leslie married in Nice, France on 30th December, 1918 to Marcelle Elizabeth Annie ARNULPHY
Leslie was awarded the DSO for "Conspicuous bravery at Pozieres, 23rd July, 1916" and also Mentioned in Despatches 3 times
"For conspicuous gallantry & consistent good work since the commencement of the campaign and until he was wounded leading his Company into action under heavy shell fire"
He was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal & the Victory Medal
Leslie died on 23rd Janary, 1919 at Pozieres, France - his name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Leslie F. Mather of the Royal Australian Engineers (DSO) son of the late Mr. John Mather, the well known artist and Mrs. Mather of South Yarra, has announced his engagement to Mademoiselle Marcelle Arnulphy, daughter of Dr B S Arnulphy of Paris and Nice. His fiancee is 20 years of age and a clever musician. She was finishing her musical education in Germany when war was declared and met the Australian soldier soon after he arrived in France on military service. Colonel Mather was born in 1888. Prior to joining the Australian Imperial Force he held the rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Engineers. He took part in the Gallipoli campaign as Lieutenant and was afterward promoted to Captain. On September 6, 1916 while serving with the 1st Field Engineers, Colonel Mather was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for having led his company under heavy shell fire until wounded. He was also mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig two months later. His promotion to his present rank was gazetted on March 12 of this year. Colonel Mather is now attached to the demobilisation staff in London." - from the Melbourne Argus 04 Jan 1919 (nla.gov.au) (nla.gov.au) (nla.gov.au)
-------------------------------------------------
"OBITUARY
A brilliant Australian officer, Leiutenant Colonel Leslie Mather, son of the late John Mather, the well known victorian artist died of illness in France shortly after the cessation of hostilities and a few weeks after his marriage to a young French lady. As Lieutenant to the 1st Field Company Australian Engineers he landed at Anzac on April 25, 1915 and remained at Gallipoli almost up to the day of evacuation. In March of last year he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and a fortnight later was appointed to the command of the Royal Engineers, 5th Australian Division. This appointment he held until the signing of the Armistice. He served in France and Flanders from early in 1916 and was wounded during the Somme Battle in 1916. On September 22, 1916 he was awarded the DSO "for conspicious gallantry & good work" and on November 13 he was mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig for distinguished & gallant conduct." - from the Melbourne Argus 07 Apr 1919 (nla.gov.au) (nla.gov.au) (nla.gov.au)
Click images to start slideshow.