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Leslie was born in Mount Gambier to James William and Minnie Haub Barry on the 17th July 1907. He was one of nine children, six sons, Stanley, John (Jack) Patrick, William James (Bill), Leslie, Maurice Moran Francis and Harold and three daughters, Molly, Dorothy (Doss) and Mavis. Les was the second generation of the family to be born in the limestone area, most famous for its blue lake in an extinct volcano. His grandfather, James had originally emigrated from Ireland in 1856, was twice married and had a total of ten children, one of whom was Les’s father, James who worked as a carrier. The strong Catholic family was proactive in hosting a range of initiatives, including the first interstate visit by a group from the Casterton area involved in the Catholic Young Men’s Society and on another occasion, the editor of ‘Catholic Young Man’, They were also actively involved in socials coordinated by the CYMS and the boys played both football and cricket.
The children attended the local Convent School, St Joseph’s where, as an eight-year-old Les received an end-of-year award for mental arithmetic (1915).
Post school Les began a successful career as a jockey, apprenticed to W. N. Brodie and riding many winners both in the South East and Adelaide. His brothers Maurice (Morrie) and William (Bill) also became jockeys but with J. McKinnon. All had different runs of success with 16-year-old Morrie, described as a diligent apprentice, winning five races as a lightweight, three of them on Lahara by May ‘28. By the same time, William also won the Dequetteville Stakes on Good Company, when the filly paid £67 5/- and the Onkaparinga Cup in 1935. He also rode Mellion when he ran a dead heat with Supervalve in the Port Adelaide Cup in 1934. It was not unusual for jockeys to sustain injuries from falls, as did Les in ’27, riding Highland Laddie at Gawler. The horse fell, as did Les with the Border Watch reporting that he ‘had a shaking up. Later he was able to walk and appeared to have recovered.’ Two years later at the Onkaparinga Hurdle Handicap, Les again had a fall ‘sustaining facial abrasions.’ Little was known about concussion injuries at the time, as falls were all part of the culture of racing.

Tragedy became part of the family’s lives when Les’ 66-year-old mother, Minnie died in hospital in August ’36. Less than two months later, Les’ 27-year-old sister, Mavis died at the family home. Both were buried in the local New Cemetery.
Four years later, in another blow to the family, Les’ 35-year-old jockey brother, William died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital shortly after admission in September ‘40. He had broken his left leg for a second time, following a fall while riding at Gawler in May, following a similar accident in October the previous year when he fell from Dark Bid at the start of the Galway Stakes.

In the meantime, war intervened. A month before his 33rd birthday, Les enlisted to serve on the 11th June ‘40, being amongst the first in the district to do so at the local Soldiers’ Hall. Those in the first draft with Les came from Mount Gambier, Kalangadoo, Naracoorte, Millicent and Lang Coop in Victoria. By this time, Les had married Minnie Rhoda White (Rose) in Mt Gambier. They eventually had six children, Leslie, Gladys, Charlie, Kevin, Graham, and Joyce. (Of these Charlie followed his father’s and uncles’ careers as an apprentice to a South-East trainer.)
Les was allocated the number SX5022, very briefly being placed in the 2/43rd, then the 2/8th Field Ambulance before officially being placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His early days were spent at Wayville in the pavilions now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before then travelling to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for intensive training. Following brief pre-embarkation leave, Les sailed on the Stratherden on the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. By May ’41 Les had sent a photo which was reproduced in the Border Watch, causing much interest. It showed a (quite blurry) Jewish photographic trick with Les’ photo appearing to be on a Palestine pound note.
By July ’42, Les was classified as being fit for service other than in field formations. Being just an inch over five foot tall, carrying a full kit would have been challenging.
Eventually Les was able to leave the Middle East, briefly disembarking at Freemantle on his way home via Melbourne in March ‘43. Back home on precious leave at the end of March ‘43, Les enjoyed a social and dance in the Mil-Lei School, where he was one of five soldiers returning from the Middle East who were honoured with the welcome also expressing the hope the men would soon be welcomed home for good. Each of the men responded and were given a small presentation. The five were ushered to the middle of the Hall, where they were surrounded by friends who then sang "The Song of Australia," "For They are Jolly Good Fellows," and "Auld Lang Syne." Following a typical country supper, Les was made a further presentation to which he responded, thanking everyone for their kind thoughts and gift. Celebrations continued until the early hours of the morning. Just days later, Les returned to camp having spent precious three weeks with his wife and family. Later that year Les was in Queensland preparing for several months of service in New Guinea in August ’43 and again in June ’44 where inevitably he contracted malaria.
In August ‘43 year an incredible story emerged about Les’ early days as a Jockey riding Black Rogue in the Red Hill Handicap in 1925. Les brought the horse down the track for its preliminary warm-up but swinging it around to get it into its stride, he knocked over a five-year-old boy who had dashed in front of the horse, tramped on him, and fractured his skull. A rumour circulated, that the boy was killed, and the jockey was not very popular in the town, although Les was unaware of what had happened. Remarkably the two met in New Guinea. He was Kevin Pilkington SX39435 with the Supply Depot and commented that he noticed a ‘little chap who camped with us” talking about horse riding. Kevin looked at the wearer’s dog medals, engraved L.G. Barry and asked if the owner knew Les Barry. With this confirmed, Les was also asked if he had ridden at Redhill, to which he added that he had won the handicap there on Black Rogue but quietly and sadly added; “l killed a little boy with that horse the same year.” Kevin immediately revealed that he was the little boy and “You should have seen his eyes gleam!” after initially not believing what he had been told. The two had a lengthy chat afterwards.

Les, having been with the Press Unit, was finally discharged on the 21st September ’44, and was eligible for a civilian suit, shoes and a hat – perfect attire for a jockey. Back home he and two other soldiers were again entertained in the Mil Lei School to a warm welcome. Les continued to be a strong supporter of the Catholic Church and also the Buff’s Lodge.
As the war had progressed, two other brothers enlisted. 30-year-old jockey, Moran Francis who had been with the Militia as S75, enlisted on the 22nd October 41 as SX14962. He served in several Australian states, then in both Morotai and Tarakan in the closing days of the war before eventually being discharged on the 14th November ’45.
25-year-old John Patrick was the third to enlist, having also served with the Militia as S5235 before enlisting in September ’43 as SX31920. He was discharged on the 31st October ’45 having also served in different Australian states.
It was not unusual for those who had served overseas to catch up and share a drink or two or three. Les and fellow Mount Gambier ex-Air Force Guard, Albert Schubert, 39240, who had also served in New Guinea, faced court for being unlawfully drunk at Vansittart Park in February ‘46. It was a costly catch-up with Les fined 10/ -with 9/6 costs. Two years later, Les was injured in a car accident with three friends in November ’48, resulting in time spent in hospital. Just months later Les’ 81-year-old father James, who had for some months been in ill health, died in the Mount Gambier Hospital. Extensive eulogies were printed in the local paper, praising his involvement in the Hunt Club, Racing Club, Hibernian Lodge and Moorak Co-op Dairy and Produce Co. Ltd.
Less than a year after his father’s death, aged just 42, Les died at his South Terrace home in Mount Gambier on the 26th February 1950. He had been at the motor cycle races at Buck's Mill when he became unwell, being taken by ambulance to the Mount Gambier Hospital. In honour of his passing, the RSL flag was flown at half mast. He was buried in the Mount Gambier Cemetery near his mother, father, brother John Patrick and sister Mavis Minnie.
The local Barrier Watch carried a detailed eulogy in their March issue. ‘Leslie George Barry, who was a returned soldier serving in Tobruk, Bardia, El Alamein and New Guinea, during four years’ service in the last war, died suddenly at his residence, Lake Terrace, Mount Gambier, on the afternoon of Sunday, February 26, aged 42 years. Mr. Barry was a jockey until he received an injury at Oakbank some years ago and had ridden horses cross country as well as on the flat.
‘A son of James William Barry and Minnie Barry (both deceased) he was born in Mount Gambier in 1908. He was married in Mount Gambier to Miss Minnie White who now survives. There are six children Leslie, Gladys, Charlie, Kevin, Graham and Joyce. His brothers were Stanley (Ade-laide), Harold (Mount Gambier) living, and Jack, William and Morrie (deceased). Sisters who survive are Mrs. L. G. Thompson (Dorothy), Mrs. W. P. Ryan (Molly), both of Mount Gambier. Another sister Mavis is deceased.’
‘The late Mr. Barry was a member of the Catholic church and of the Buff's Lodge. He was buried at the Mt. Gambier Cemetery on February 28, Rev, Father McCabe performing the service. Mr. E. E. James carried out mortuary arrangements.’
Similarly, the Southern Cross and Adelaide News carried tributes to Les. ‘The death occurred yesterday at Mount Gambier of Leslie Barry, well known in the South-East as a jumping jockey. He was a brother of the late "Bill" and "Mo" Barry, who rode in Adelaide some years ago. SAJC official Mr. J. C. Neate talked with Barry on Saturday. He said Les appeared to be in good health. Barry, who has a son, Charlie, apprenticed to a South-East trainer, served oversea with the AIF.’
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.