Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leslie (Les) was the first son and third Australian-born generation Haywood, son of George Henry and Eva Lee (nee Merrett). His grandfather, named George Haywood (Snr) came to South Australia from Nottingham, England as a young child. By 1852 his settler family were living in the southern Yorke Peninsula, with his father initially working as a shepherd at Lake Sunday Station. Eventually he became a landowner in his own right and took up farming in the Kaniva district of Victoria. His sons, including George Henry, Leslie’s father, also became farmers and Leslie was also followed in that career.
The family initially lived in Serviceton, a railway town on the border of Victoria and South Australia, where Les was born on the 14th February, 1913. Later, the family moved to the Riverland where other of Leslie’s siblings were born. Les was one of eleven children. His siblings included Doris, Grace, Ada, Gladys, Jean, Lucy, Lila, Betty, George Wilfred and Stan. It was here that Les began his education at the Renmark Public School.
The Haywood family then moved to Mt Compass on the Fleurieu Peninsula to farm where George was also heavily involved in agriculture as a market gardener. For 11-year-old Les, it meant a change of school to the local Nangkita Public School.
Post school, Les was involved working on the family farm. He married Gwendoline Adelaide Wickman with the young couple living at Victor Harbor. However, with the outbreak of war Les’ younger brother, 23 year old George enlisted on the 12th July, 1940 and was allocated the number SX8587. 27-year-old Leslie enlisted a fortnight later, becoming SX9752 with both allocated to the newly formed 2/48th battalion. The brothers’ early training was at Wayville in the drafty pavilions which are now part of the Showgrounds. From there, training continued at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. Following pre-embarkation leave, Les and George were soon on the Stratheden in November ’40, arriving at El Kantara, Egypt in the Middle East on the 17th December, then headed to their camp at Dimra. Unfortunately, both brothers and several others in their battalion contracted Mumps, causing them to be hospitalised over Christmas and into the New Year of ’41. The 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before going to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees.
Because of its strategic port position, Tobruk was a key focus for the supply of rations, water and medical supplies. In defending Tobruk, Allied ships and troops were under constant attack, sustaining heavy losses.
In April ’42 Les accidentally injured his toe and was briefly hospitalised. Probably as a result of poor diet, this was followed by a severe dysentery in August, another stint in hospital before a return to his battalion and a brief reunion with George as the battle for supremacy of the region raged. The second intense Battle of El Alamein began on 23rd October. Just two months after meeting each other, aged 23, George was killed in action on the 26th October ‘42. John Glenn in his book ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ describes the situation that George, Les and their fellow Rats faced. ‘Conditions at the time were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Montgomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward in what was to be relentless fighting in in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29.’
‘The attack continued, however, without pause…it was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. The troops had never been more tired.. The 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest; from first light until nine o’clock the enemy turned all their fury on the Trig area, with particularly heavy fire on 29 itself, hiding the position in a cloud of dust and smoke.’ He added:
‘Death would have reaped a rich harvest of gallant man. And of the 2/48th Battalion only forty-one weary troops would remain in the field.’ Les was one. It was under these conditions that George received his fatal wounds.
Les returned to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in February ’43. Brief leave follwed before Les’ battalion heading to the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland for training in jungle warfare in preparation for going to New Guinea to face a totally different enemy in tropical conditions. However the following month, Les was evacuated to hospital, remaining there until July.
Later that year in November, Les was granted leave without pay to help back home on the farm. He was then discharged in December 1943.
Les continued to remember his young brother in the ensuing years.
November 1942 HAYWOOD. — in sad but loving memory of my dear brother George, killed In action in Egypt. Oct. 1942. Ever remembered by his brother, Les (A.I.F. abroad) and sister-in-law Gwen and kiddies.
Advertiser Thursday 26 October 1944, HAYWOOD. —In loving memory of my dear brother, killed in action, El Alamein, Oct 26, 1942. Always in our thoughts— Ever remembered by Les, Gwen and children.
Advertiser Friday 26 October 1945, HAYWOOD. —In loving memory of George, killed in action at El Alamein on October 26 1942. - Time drifts on, three years have passed, But memories of you brother dear, will always last. Remembered by Les ex-2/48th Btn. and sister-in-law Gwen, nieces and nephews.
Advertiser Saturday 26 October 1946, HAYWOOD. —In loving memory of my brother, killed at El Alamein on October 26. 1942. It does not take a special day to bring you back to mind. The days we do not think of you are very hard to find. —Remembered by Les, Gwen and children.
Advertiser Tuesday 26 October 1948 HAYWOOD. —To the memory of my dear brother George, killed at El Alamein on October 26, 1942. You walk beside us through the passing year.—Always remembered by Les, Gwen and children.
Advertiser Thursday 26 October 1950, HAYWOOD. — In loving memory of dear George killed at El Alamein on October 26. 1942. As you rest in peaceful sleep. Your memory we will always keep — Always remembered by Les, Gwen and children.
Advertiser Friday 26 October 1951, HAYWOOD. — In loving memory of our brother George killed in action at El Alamein, October 26. 1942. The years are quickly passing. But memories are everlasting —Ever remembered by Les, Gwen and children.
Advertiser Saturday 25 October 1952, HAYWOOD. — In loving memory of George, killed at El Alamein. October 26. 1942. Deep in our hearts your memory is kept To cherish, to love and never for forget remembered by Les, Gwen and children.
Advertiser Monday 26 October 1953, HAYWOOD.— In loving memory of George, killed in action at El Alamein, October 26, 1942. A memory silently kept of the one we'll never forget. —Ever remembered by Les, Gwen and children.
Post war, Les was employed as a woodcutter and builder at Victor Harbor. He and Gwen had eight children, Dawn, Des, Heather, Michael, Geraldine, Ros, Anthony, Kingsley and George. Les died aged 59 at Victor Harbor on 23 October 1972 and was buried in the Victor Harbor Cemetery. Gwen lived to be 88 and died in August, 2007, she now rests with Les.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion