Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born Leslie John Steers,  May 1896, in Puckpunda, near Seymour, Victoria

Father Mr. Henry (Harry) Biggs STEERS (b.1855 in Brighton, Sussex, England) and
Mother Lullis (Lily) STEERS (nee Johnstone) -b. 1858 in Kilmore - d.1943 in Euroa.

Leslie lived with his parents and siblings at Benjamin Street, Sunshine, Victoria

Leslie enlisted with his three brothers - all with consecutive service numbers:
3417 Leslie Steers (19 years)
3418 Henry Augustus Steers (26 years)
3419 Samuel Steers (22 years)
3420 William Robert Steers (24 years)

Next of kin in service (brothers)
3418   Private Henry Augustus Harry Steers (26 years) - 57th Battalion
           01/07/1915   All four brothers enlisted together in Melbourne, VIC
           11/10/1915   All four brothers embarked Port of Melbourne, onboard
                               HMAT A71 Nestor
                               as Privates, with 5th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
           23/02/1918    marched out to 57th Battalion
           07/06/1918    returned to Australia - defective vision
           10/09/1918    discharged from service
           1921              MARRIED  Annie Bertha Steers (nee Sleswick)
                                               (b. 1885 in Milawa, Oxley, VIC)
           They had one daughter: June Elsie Steers
           15/06/1958    Henry passed away
           Cremated in:  Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery
                                Garden Of Remembrance 3 Wall Niches

3419   Private Samuel Steers (22 years) - 5th Infantry Battalion
           01/07/1915   All four brothers enlisted together in Melbourne, VIC
           11/10/1915   All four brothers embarked Port of Melbourne, onboard
                               HMAT A71 Nestor
                               as Privates, with 5th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
           20/12/1915    suffered from a Hernia in Cairo, Egypt
           10/06/1916    Returned to Australia - onboard HT Itomus
           17/08/1916    discharged from service
           Aug 1966       Samuel passed away
           Cremated in:  Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery
                                Garden Of Remembrance 3 Wall Niches

3420  Private William Robert Steers (24 years) - 58th Infantry Battalion
          01/07/1915    All four brothers enlisted together in Melbourne, VIC
          11/10/1915    All four brothers embarked Port of Melbourne, onboard
                              HMAT A71 Nestor
                              as Privates, with 5th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
          05/09/1916    William died of wounds received in action
          Buried in:       Estaires Communal Cemetery, France
                               Plot II, Row L, Grave 12
          His name is commemorated on Panel 166 at the Australian War Memorial,
          Canberra, ACT.

Cousin:
Private J Parker, 5th Infantry Battalion       

Leslie's Previous service:  12 months School Cadets

Leslie was described on enlisting as 19 years, 2 months of age; single; 5' 8" tall;
10 stone; fresh complexion; brown eyes; dark brown hair; Church of England

01/07/1915    All four brothers enlisted together in Melbourne, Victoria

11/10/1915    All four brothers embarked Port of Melbourne, onboard embarked HMAT A71 Nestor
                     as Privates, with 5th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcement

05/01/1916    left Abbassia Detention Barracks to duty

22/02/1916    taken on strength from reinforcements into 5th Battalion, Serapeum

25/03/1916    embarked onboard HT Briton to join British Expeditionary Forces, ex Alexandria
30/03/1916    disembarked into Marseilles, France

15/02/1917    to hospital sick, in the field - South Midland Casualty Clearing Station
27/03/1917    discharged from hospital, Etaples
13/04/1917    rejoined unit

04/07/1917    sick with scabies - admitted to 1st Field Ambulance
                     transferred to Scabies Station
11/07/1917    discharged to duty
12/07/1917    rejoned unit in the field, France

06/09/1917    promoted to Lance Corporal - 5th Battalion

It was noted that he was stretchered off the field, later to die from his injuries.

20/09/1917    hit in the hand and stayed in the field, later to be shot in the stomach
                    - received in action in Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium

29/04/1918    stated in London
                     by his brother 3418 Private Henry Augustus Steers,
                     58th Battalion, late 5th, Hut 11, Westham
                     "L. Steers is my brother.  He was killed at Ypres, wounded and
                      carried out on a stretcher and died the same day.  I did not
                      see him, but his mate, Private Murphy, initial and number not
                      known, told me.
                      I found out he was buried, buried at Birr Cross Roads Cemetery,
                      Zillebeke."

03/03/1918     stated in France by C/QMS. H McAllister
                      "Re: 3417 Leslie Steers. He was wounded in the stomach about
                       7 o'clock in the morning of Sept. 20th. He was carried out on a
                       stretcher, as far a Hooge, where the dressing station was. He
                       died during the morning. I cannot say where he was buried, but
                       think it would be near the dressing station.  You also ask for a
                       description of L Steers. In height he was about 5' 10", and about
                       12 stone, was of a cheerful disposition, always smiling, complexion
                       fresh.  I think Steers would be buried decently in a Soldiers'
                       Cemetery near Hooge."

17/12/1917    stated in Boulogne, France
                    by 584 Private Thomas Henry Clifton Gardner - 5th Battalion
                    "I knew him well, he was in my company 'A' and was on HQ.
                     His number is about that (3417). We called him "Lee".  He was
                     of medium height, rather heavy build, dark and about 24.
                     He had very prominent lips, and he was the QMS assistant. I
                     was told by QMS McAllister 5.A. that he had enquired at
                     Australian HQ, Horseferry Road, London about Nov.6th and had
                     been told there that Stters had been traced to hospital.  I saw
                     Steers after he was hit in the attack at Menin Road.  He had been
                     first hit in the hand and refused to go back and was afterwards
                     badly hit in the stomach."

Buried in:       Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium
                     Plot V, Row A, Grave 14

His name is commemorated on Panel 45 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Medals:          1914/15 Star (2209); British War medal (21301); Victory medal (21225)
                     Memorial Plaque and Scroll (338990)

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan, 02/02/2017.  Lest we forget.