Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

When Ronald McLeish was born in 1895 in Yea, Victoria, his father, Daniel, was 43 and his mother, Clementina, was 36. He had six brothers and six sisters. He died on 20 May 1916 in South Melbourne, Victoria, at the age of 21.

Yea Chronicle (Yea, Vic. : 1891 - 1920), Thursday 27 August 1914, page 3

"Send-off" by Yea Troop 15th Light Horse. An enthusiastic and stirring "send. off" was given by the Yea troop of the 15th Light Horse to their comrades on the eve of their departure to the Broadmeadows camp. The function, which took the form of a smoke night, was held in the Dramatic Society's rooms. The room was appropriately decorated with bounting, Lieut. T. H. Templeton presided over the gathering whlich included a large number of Light Horsemen both from Yea and the surrounding districts. The following toast list was gone through :-" The King," "The Old V.M.R.," "Success to the British Forces," "Our Local Volunteers," "J.K.," (meaning Colonel J. K. Forsyth, an old favorite with the Yea troop), " The Press," "The Chairman." and "Mrs Templeton." (the latter having arranged the tables and the decorations.) In replying to the toast of "Our Departing Comrades" Corporal A. Dunn said that the people of Yea could rest assurred that if they ever got to the front-and they hoped they wouldthey would never fail in their duty or show the white feather, Private W. McLeish remarked that if it was their luck to stop a piece of lead they would take it in good part, but it would not be in the back, and Private C. Waddell, in endorsing his comrade's remarks, said they had been playing at soldiers, and it was now their wish to be real soldiers. Private E. Hilliear said he was not going with the intention of stopping a piece of lead, he was going to try and get the V.C. Privates R. McLeish, V. McKenzie, R. Kidd and Civilian H Phillips also spoke in similar strains, and Corporal T. Henneberry gave the volunteers some splendid advice and "tricks of warfare" which were greatly appreciated. Each toast was accorded musical honors During the evening songs were rendered by Sergeant Dunn, Privates W, and R. McLeish, C. Waddell, H. Phillips, while recitations were given by Messrs A. Williamson, Senior Constable Coots and McCarthy, and bagpipe selec tions by Private R. McIntosh. A most enjoyable gathering was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem,

22 October 1915 - Last week Mr. Allen McLeish, of Urana, received word that his brother Lance-corporal Ronald McLeish was wounded on September 17th, and is now in a hospital at Malta. He was in the memorable landing at Gaba Tepe on April 25, and was in the trenches nearly five months before being wounded. Another brother of Mr. McLeish died of fever in Egypt in April last.

"Lance Corporal McLeish Dies After Operation

We deeply regret to have to chronicle the sad death of Lance-Corporal Ron. McLeish, one of our returned wounded local soldiers, whilst under going an operation at the Base Hospital Melbourne on Saturday evening, at 8 o'clock, but although a wire was forwarded by Lieut.-Colonel Hawker to the Rev. G. Martin, Presbyterian minister, the same evening, conveying the news of his death, it was not received until about half past 10 o'clock on the following night (Sun day). Some time before this, however (shortly after the churches were closed), a horseman from Glenburn brought word to the bereaved parents that a wire containing news of their son's death had reached Glenburn the night before, but, as the Yea office was closed, it had been found impossible to pass it on. The grief of the bereaved parents and members of their family may be imagined." - from the Yea Chronicle 25 May 1916 (nla.gov.au) 

"Landing at Anzac Cove

The landing at Anzac Cove on Sunday, 25 April 1915, also known as the landing at Gaba Tepe, and to the Turks as the Arıburnu Battle, was part of the amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by the forces of the British Empire, which began the land phase of the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War.

The assault troops, mostly from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), landed at night on the western (Aegean Sea) side of the peninsula. They were put ashore one mile (1.6 km) north of their intended landing beach. In the darkness, the assault formations became mixed up, but the troops gradually made their way inland, under increasing opposition from the Ottoman Turkish defenders.[nb 1] Not long after coming ashore the ANZAC plans were discarded, and the companies and battalions were thrown into battle piece-meal, and received mixed orders. Some advanced to their pre-designated objectives while others were diverted to other areas, then ordered to dig in along defensive ridge lines.

Although they failed to achieve their objectives, by nightfall the ANZACs had formed a beachhead, albeit much smaller than intended. In places they were clinging onto cliff faces with no organised defence system. Their precarious position convinced both divisional commanders to ask for an evacuation, but after taking advice from the Royal Navy about how practicable that would be, the army commander decided they would stay. The exact number of the day's casualties is not known. The ANZACs had landed two divisions but over two thousand of their men had been killed or wounded, together with at least a similar number of Turkish casualties.

Since 1916 the anniversary of the landings on 25 April has been commemorated as Anzac Day, becoming one of the most important national celebrations in Australia and New Zealand. The anniversary is also commemorated in Turkey, the United Kingdom and Ireland." - SOURCE (pananiadiggers.com.au)