Leslie William Ward was born in Carlton in 1887, the eldest child of Charles Philip and Alice Ward (nee Hodges). Les had two sisters Eva Alice born in 1888 and Florimel Emma born 1897.
The family moved to “Dumaresq” in Guildford Road Surrey Hills some time before Florimel’s birth. Here young Les went school and later played football for Surrey Hills.
Les must have been a passionate man for 17 days after enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) he penned the following letter to the Editor of the Argus, a prominent Melbourne newspaper of the day. The letter was published in The Argus Tuesday 5th January 1915.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
Sir, - A week after the war broke out my father, in a splendid letter to me, said that he knew we were both prepared if necessary to shed our last drop of blood for Australia and the Empire. I had already joined the rifle club and sent in my name to the Victoria Barracks volunteering for active service. Dr. Legge, the local medical officer at Swan Hill, very reluctantly "turned me down" for a few defective teeth in the bottom jaw. I naturally felt very savage, and thought I was not wanted, but as Lord Kitchener is still calling for more men and yet more, I tried again. I went through flying this time, and marched into camp on Christmas Eve. And now to all those single men who have no one depending on them for a living I send this rally call. To the boys who went to school, and afterwards played football with me at Surrey Hills, to the men I worked with in the city warehouse, to the men in the church I belong to, to the men in Swan Hill, Mildura, Kerang, Nyah, and Bendigo; to the men who worked with me in the shearing-sheds of Tapio and Avoca, on the Darling and Etona, Noondoo and Boombah, in Queensland; to the plasterers who worked with and for me in Melbourne and country, and the comrades who knew me in the P.L.C., rally round, enlist, and join me. Will you? - Yours, &c.
Private LESLIE WARD,
C Squadron, Light Horse Depot,
Jan. 4 Broadmeadows.
Les was 27 years of age when he enlisted in the Light Horse on 17th December 1914 at Swan Hill, Victoria. On enlistment his medical report states his height as 5’7¼” and weight 135lbs with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.
SN501 Private Leslie Ward was posted to 13th Light Horse Regiment (LHR), C Squadron and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 29th March 1915.
Les enlisted as a single man, however at some stage during training and prior to his departure to Egypt he found time to marry his sweetheart Margaret Stoddart of “Ivy Cottage” Skipton, Victoria.
The 13th LHR assembled and embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT Persic from Melbourne on 28th May 1915 arriving in Egypt on 29th June 1915. The Light Horse were considered unsuitable for the operations at Gallipoli, but they were later deployed (they volunteered) without their horses.
Les and the 13th LHR landed at Gallipoli on 11th September 1915. Most of the regiment’s time at Gallipoli was spent manning the trenches at Lone Pine, one of the most heavily contested parts of the ANZAC front line. On 18th October 1915, Les was promoted to Acting Sergeant.
On 20th December 1915, Les with the regiment withdrew from Gallipoli returning to Egypt where they moved to the Suez Canal, taking part in its defence. On 10th March 1916, the decision was taken to break down the 13th LHR to provide a divisional cavalry squadron for each of the 2nd, 4th and 5th Australian Infantry Divisions.
Les was posted to 4th Divisional Cavalry B Squadron on 28th March 1916 and was promoted to Sergeant on 1st April 1916.
In May 1916 the 13th LHR was reformed at Tel El Kebir, Egypt and subsequently embarked with the 5th Infantry Division to France. On 2nd July 1916, the 13th LHR reassembled in France and from then on was allotted to I Anzac Corps as Corps Cavalry. Les was posted to I Anzac Army Corps Light Horse Regiment on 7th July 1916.
Due to the static nature of the Western Front with the trenches, traditional cavalry work was not available until the final stages of the war when mobility was a factor. Consequently, while the men from the 13th Light Horse Regiment participated in many of the major battles on the Western Front, it was done mainly as support troops. In that role the 13th Light Horse Regiment as Corps Cavalry undertook traffic control, escort work and generally guarding the lines of communication.
In March 1917 the German army moved back from their positions North East of Albert to the Hindenburg Line for the first time. The Anzac Corps followed up the withdrawal, and the Light Horse assumed the role of “special patrol duty” ahead of the advancing troops. Elation at being given the opportunity for effective mounted combat, was, however, short lived. The German withdrawal was definitely a fighting one, requiring more firepower that could be mustered by the small mounted forces. It was during the advance to Baupame that the only recorded engagement between Australian and German mounted troops occurred.
One advance troop of the I Anzac Army Corps Light Horse Regiment engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand fight with a stronger party of Uhlans (Prussian Lancers), both sides suffering. The Australians were armed with rifles and bayonets, the Uhlans with lances and sabres. At first the Australians were cut up but the fight finished with honours even.
On 18th March 1917, Sgt Leslie William Ward was mortally wounded by a sabre cut to the neck most likely a result of this engagement.
Les died of his wounds at 5th Australian Field Ambulance, France on 19th March 1917, aged 29 and was buried at Pozieres British Cemetery Ovillers-La Boisselle, France (Plot 2 / Row E / Grave 16) where his mates erected a memorial (much to the ire of the War Graves Commission) such was their esteem for Les.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
Lest we forget.
Last Modified on 07/09/2011 20:30