CROSSINGHAM, Leonard Sydney
| Service Number: | 2539 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 September 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 33rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 23 April 1889 |
| Home Town: | Pelican Island, Kempsey, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia, 14 May 1964, aged 75 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Frederickton Cemetery, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | South West Rocks Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2539, 33rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2539, 33rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Napier embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2539, 33rd Infantry Battalion, SS Napier, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Private Leonard Sydney Crossingham and his brothers – Arthur William Crossingham and George Henry Crossingham all enlisted together in the 33rd Battalion and embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on 17 November, 1916.
2540 Pte William Arthur Crossingham 33rd Bn, died of pneumonia not long after reaching England on 22 February 1917 and 2542 Pte George Henry Crossingham MM, 33rd Bn, died of wounds, 5 April 1918.
Leonard was wounded in action on three occasions during his time on the Western Front. On 7 June 1917 during the Battle of Messines he was wounded by poisonous gas. Len was treated in France and returned to duty 7 weeks later.
On 5 October 1917 in the lead up to the Battle of Passchendaele (9 – 12 October 1917) Len was again wounded, suffering a gunshot wound to the knee. He was treated in France and returned to duty 5 weeks later.
Shortly after George’s death on 5th April 2018, Len was seriously wounded in action by gassing on the 17 April 1918. The Germans had saturated the trenches near Villers Bretonneux and Cachey in a 3-hour barrage in the predawn with phosgene and mustard gas. This wounding was much more serious than the first time he was gassed. Len was admitted to hospital in Rouen in France, then transferred to England – firstly to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Edgbaston and then to the First Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Leonard eventually returned to his unit in France during October 1918 after 6 long months in recovery. He was returned to Australia in April 1919.
Leonard Sydney Crossingham recovered from his wounds, married and raised three children in a small town on the Macleay River. He served again during World War Two.
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