Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leslie Howard Mayo was born at Raymond Terrace, New South Wales in 1875. Les as he was known was the son of Henry and Margaret Mayo (nee Heaslip).

Henry Richard Mayo, Les's father was an Alderman. Hence his family was well known through out the district.

Les was a baker by trade but he was a skilled horseman. He would have followed newspaper accounts of the Transvaal War as the conflict was originaly called. 

Then when it was promugated that a second NSW Mounted Rifle contingent would be raised for that war, he volunteered. However, to increase his chances of being selected, Les stated he was born in 1877, not his actual birth year. For he was born in 1875. 

His New South Wales Birth Registration Record is attached. That confirms that Les was born in 1875 not 1877 as he stated to enlist. 

He subsequently always claimed to have been born in 1877 for it meant he was younger.

Les passed the strict riding and shooting tests with ease and was mustered. His younger brother, Sid eagerly followed in his wake to enlist in the same unit.

They both saw active service in the Transvaal but Sid succumbed to fever and died. It is likely that Les too suffered from fever on the veldt. 

For they were in the same unit, campaigning on the same remote veldt with the same risk. They were brothers. Hence same constitution. Les however was five years older than Sid who was an office worker.

Les had spent more work time outdoors than his little brother and comrade. Hence Les was likey more resilient.

Les was repatriated with the survivors of his unit in 1902. He returned to his trade but suffered health issues for a number of years.

However, Leslie Howard Mayo married Annie Jane Donaldson in Gosford in 1909. The couple had a child in 1910 but sadly, Annie died a few days after giving birth.

Les was a widower when he married Hilda Lawson Wand in 1913. There is a 1914 birth registration record for a child born in Gosford.

However Les became increasingly unwell. He was no longer able to work and spent his final years as a bed ridden invalid.

Les succumbed at their family home in Sydney in 1927. It is likely that his cause of death was war related. However that is not confirmed.

The Death notice that Hilda published is attached.

Likewise his Funeral notice is attached. 

Lest We Forget.

MyHeritage Family Records cited. Trove Family Notices plus Trove newspaper obits are attached.

Note that Les was two years older than the age inscribed on his headstone.

Find a Grave record is linked.