THORBURN, Leslie Herbert
| Service Number: | 3285 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newham, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Newham, Macedon Ranges, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Newham State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank clerk |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, France, 9 November 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Heilly Station Cemetery Plot V, Row D, Grave 39. |
| Memorials: | Nar Nar Goon Commercial Bank of Australia Limited WW1 Roll of Honour, Newham & Districts Roll of Honor, Newham State School No 1913 Honor Roll, Woodend St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Wooden and Newham Roll of Honor, Woodend War Memorial Clock Tower |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3285, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 3285, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 3285, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Melbourne | |
| 24 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Oct 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 8th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
His father recorded on his roll of honour form, “Had he been spared, there was a promising career before him.”
A memorial service was held for Corporal Thorburn at Newham during December 1916 and the details were published in the Woodend Star newspaper,
“Corporal Thorburn was the son of our respected residents, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Thorburn, of Hanging Rock, and was a most promising young man of estimable qualities. At the age of 15 he entered the service of the Commercial Bank, securing his appointment through Mr. A. T. Crow, manager of the local branch. He always had a liking for military occupation, and when at Box Hill was a senior Sergeant in the Cadets, and had a chance of going to England with the 25 cadets, who, it may be remembered, went on a visit to the old country. Circumstances arose, however, which prevented his going on that trip, and after three months' bank relieving work at Rainbow, he returned to the Prahran branch of the bank. Then he joined the Artillery Corps, and became a gunner. He then went in the Service of the bank to Gosford, New South Wales, where he joined the Citizens' Forces, and gained promotion to the rank of sergeant. Soon after the war broke out, he was appointed by the military authorities to do duty at Newcastle. He volunteered to go abroad, but was advised that he was too young, and after spending six weeks at Newcastle, he was sent to Maitland in charge of a guard. He served a fortnight there under hard conditions, and returned to Gosford, from which place he was promoted by the Bank authorities to a position at Rockdale. At this time an opportunity offered to enter the Duntroon College, but he was unable to take advantage of it, and he again volunteered for active service, but, in compliance with the wishes of his parents, he came home and enlisted from Victoria in the 8th Battalion, A.I.F., with which he served for 12 months before his death in France, after being in Egypt and Salonica. In his last letter home from Broadmeadows camp, dated 23rd November, 1915. Corporal Thorburn said: — " I don't suppose I will get a chance to see any of you again before I go, but I want you to think and look forward to my coming back well. Pray to God as I am doing. Should anything happen to me, I have done my duty and you yours."
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