Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leslie Headland Russell had recently turned 18 when he enlisted to join WW1 on 28th March 1917. While training in Australia he allocated to the 29/9th Light Horse, which was set to disembark from Victoria to Suez Egypt and then to Moascar. He had multiple different ranks and units in the army including a private when first joining and a driver in the 3rd Australian machine gun squadron. Overall, he was involved in many important battles including the Battle of Megiddo, and the Battle of Beersheba. He was a brave and honourable soldier whose sacrifice and service to the country is much appreciated.

Leslie Headland Russell was born on the 23rd of March 1899 in Walkerville, South Australia. His father was Arthur John Russell, who was his next in kin throughout war and his mother, Ada Brand. He was one of 7 siblings, Adelaide Martha Russell (1890-1938), Evelyn Ada Russell (1892-1945), Norman John Russell (1897-1974), Leslie Headland Russell (1899-1977), William Allan Russell (1902-1974), Arthur George Russell (1903-1942) and Kathleen Florence Russell (1907-1978).

He was moderately tall at 5 feet 81/2 inches; his complexion was fair with dark brown hair and blue eyes with perfect vision. He was not married when enlisting for war. Before the war started, he served for 4 years at the Senior Cadets, starting as soon as possible, joining a day after turning 14. Therefore, he had experience of, wearing a uniform, using a gun and learning the necessities needed for service. This resulted in having many roles later in his service in the Australian army. Before enlisting in the war his occupation was as a Gardener in Adelaide.

He was extremely keen to join WW1, enlisting just 5 days after turning 18, on the 28th of March 1917 with written consent from his father because he was under 21. He the attended training, with his new unit, 3rd Light Horse Brigade, 9th Light horse regiment, 29th reinforcement. In June 1917 he spent 3 weeks in Isolation Camp at Ascot Vale because he had been exposed to Measles. He was tested daily with throat swabs for the disease and was cleared at the end of his isolation.

On the 7th of September his unit embarked at Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT Kyarra. On the time of his embarkation his rank was a private. He travelled Suez, Egypt disembarking on the 19th October 1917.  The same day he Marched in Moascar, Egypt. On the 31st October the battle of Beersheba took place which happened during the third battle of Gaza in Palestine. This battle involved Leslie Headland Russel with his unit, plus multiple other light horse regiments. British, Australian and New Zealand armies fought together against the Turkish defence to secure the town, Beersheba. This battle was a large, fierce, and impactful battle ending with British-Australian victory. These Australian Light Horse divisions involved will forever be remembered for their impact in capturing the town and putting their lives at risk, with thousands left dying or wounded from both sides.

On 21/11/1917 Leslie Headland Russell was taken on strength and march into a training camp, the Imperial School of Instructions. This was the Camp where he spent from 9/12/1917 – 13/12/1917 attending. Although he soon developed a case of tonsilitis and made his way to Abbassia, where he was admitted to a hospital. 4 spent four days in hospital, being discharged on the 19th December 1917 where he re-joined his unit in Moascar, Egypt.  The month of January 1918 was a wet, rainy month where he spent most of his time in training camps.

Leslie Russell joined the 3rd Australian Machine Gun Squadron in Moascar on 6/2/1918. From 30 April 1918 to 3 May, 1918 Leslie Russel and his brigade was involved in the Es Salt Raid. He travelled to Jericho and Jordan Valley where they seized the Es Salt. In the end though the raid was unsuccessful causing all the forces to withdraw.

On 17/6/1918 he proceeded to Port Said rest camp. While in Port said he was admitted to a hospital due to Pyrexia which is an abnormally high fever which can be deadly if not treated properly. He stayed a rest camp from 9/8/1918 - 21/8/1918. After marching in and out of Port Said and Moascar he re-joined his unit, 3rd A.M.G squadron. From here he continued with training with his unit. The end of September 1918 was demanding with multiple battles around, causing Leslie Russell’s squadron to move and march many times. The major battle was the battle of Megiddo fought against the German and Ottoman Empire from the 19th of September to the beginning of October 1918. General Sir Edmund Allenby led the British Empire’s Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) in Palestine and Syria. On the 19th of September the EEF broke the Turkish line sending armies through to reach the plain of Enderlin. The 3rd Light Horse Brigade which including Leslie Headland Russell attacked and captured Jenin on 20 September. This then led multiple other troops to join and by the next morning more than 8,000 Turkish prisoners were held. Later the 3rd Brigade blocked the escape route from Damascus and captured another 750 Germans and Turks. Overall, the Australian Light horse helped to capture 75,000 prisoners, 360 guns while moving the front forward 560 km. This ended with German and Ottoman forces surrounded by the British empire, resulting in victory for the Australian side.

On the 20th October 1918 Leslie Headland Russell was admitted as a driver which was his last rank before the war ended. The war ended on the 11th of November 1918, bringing the battles to an end. The South Australian Military District was discharged on 10th of July 1919 meaning the 9th Light horse light regiment left from Kantara, Egypt, embarking on the HMT Oxfordshire to Australia, disembarking in Cairns 10/8/1919.

On 7 November 1925 Leslie married Henretta Audrey Miller in South Australia. At the age of 78, on November 26 Leslie Headland Russell passed away.

Bibliography

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·      ‌ “Australian Light Horse Studies Centre.” Tripod.com, 2023, https://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1847445/9th-alhr-aif-account-about-the-fall-of-beersheba/. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

·      ‌“Es Salt Raid.” Awm.gov.au, 2023, www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84824. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

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