Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leonard Essery was born on the 17th of April, 1894. It is believed he was born at 32 Elizabeth Street, Norwood.  At the age of 21, Leonard Essery enlisted in the Australian Army. Before enlisting in the Australian Army he worked as a carpenter somewhere in the Norwood area. Essery was not a married man and is believed to have been living with his Mother, Mary when he enlisted. It is unknown what Essery did in his spare time and it is not known what happened to Leonard's father and if he had any siblings.

Leonard Essery signed up for the Australian Infantry Force in Adelaide, it is unknown as to where exactly in Adelaide. He trained in Adelaide before heading off for the War, possibly at the Mitcham training camp as that was where his battalion trained. The Mitcham training camp was on a 300-acre farm that was owned by the Mortlock. The camp was able to hold approximately 4000 people, who would each train for about 12 weeks. He would have been trained on how to throw grenades, patrolling fields, bayonet fighting and digging trenches. His last known rank was an acting sergeant and before that a provisional sergeant. He was in the 8/32 battalion and left Adelaide on HMAT Ballarat a70. The HMAT Ballarat was a cargo and troop ship that was over 150 meters long. The ship was built in 1911 but was sunk in early 1917 when hit by a German torpedo. All 1700 people survived. Essery most likely carried a bayonet, a hand grenade and when the supply of grenades ran out, a "jam tin grenade" which is a bomb made of an old tin can, filled with explosives and scrap bits of metal, as they didn’t have any proper grenades. Essery was involved in the Battle of Somme and possibly the battle of Ypres in his war days. His battalion has been recorded to have gone to both of these battles but it is unsure whether Essery was in hospital at these points in time. Leonard Essery left Australia on the 12th of August, 1916, his boat heading for the battle of Somme.

Leonard spent a very small amount of time in the trenches as he spent the majority of his time in the hospital suffering from Bronchitis. He was admitted to hospital on the 22 of November 1916. He was diagnosed with Bronchitis. He was transferred to Fovant military hospital which is in Wiltshire, England, as his condition was worsening. He was transferred for the last time to London on the 26th of December in 1916. Whilst in hospital the army communicated with his mother via letters regarding his whereabouts and his condition. There have been 2 letters recovered that were sent about Leonard while he was in hospital. Leonard was in the hospital until the 6th of June and arrived back in Australia on the 8th of may, 1919.

Leonard Essery received 3 medals for his service and bravery in the first world war. These medals were: The British War medal, The victory medal, and the 1914/15 star.

The British war medal is awarded to anyone who travels to a war-zone for service to their country, the victory medal is awarded to troops who win their battle in a war and defeat the enemy or complete the task set for them and the 1914/15 star is awarded to anyone who was involved in the war between the 5th of August, 1914 to the 31st of December. 1915. These 3 medals were awarded to Leonard Essery for his service in the 1st world war.