Leslie Norman Elkington
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 8 Mar 1899 |
| Place of Birth | Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
| Death | 18 May 1955, aged 56 |
| Place of Death | Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 3 months |
| Description |
5'7½" (1.m) tall ; 142lbs 64.41 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; Hernia scar |
| Occupation | Miner |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | East Cannington, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. William Henry Elkington |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 7293 |
| Date of Enlistment | 27 Jun 1917 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion 22nd Reinforcements |
| Date of Embarkation | 13 Mar 1918 ‒ 4 Apr 1918 |
| Ship Embarked On | RMS Ormonde Fremantle to Port Suez |
| Date of Embarkation | 3 Jul 1918 ‒ 16 Jul 1918 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Port Darwin Port Suez to Southampton, England |
| Date of Return | 12 Jul 1919 ‒ 16 Aug 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS City of Exeter |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | none at present |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries: Enlisted in Kalgoorlie. NOK lived in East Cannington.
War Service
Entered camp on 3 Jul 1917, and three days later was allocated to the No 5 District Guard as his parents had initially refused to give permission for him to serve overseas before his 19th birthday. On 19 Jan 1918 they cancelled this requirement, and on 4 Jan 1918 he transferred to AIF training and he was allocated to the 22nd reinforcement for the 28th Battalion from 21 Jan 1918. Leslie sailed for England aboard the RMS Ormonde on 13 Mar 1918.
Enroute to England with them, he disembarked in Suez on 4 Apr 1918, and was admitted to the Government Hospital at Suez with gastritis from 27 Apr till 21 May 1918. Free to now resume his voyage to England, on 3 Jul 1918 he boarded the SS Port Darwin at Suez for the rest of the journey, disembarking in Southampton on 16 Jul 1918.
On arrival he was sent to the 5th Training Battalion at Fovant to ready himself for service in the trenches. On 9 Oct at Fovant he was AWOL from midnight 8 Oct until 9:30pm 10 Oct 1918. Admonished, he forfeited two day's pay. On 17 Oct 1918 he travelled overseas to France through Southampton and was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 20 Oct 1918 in a rear area.
Leslie remained with the Battalion in France until 26 Aug 1919 when he returned to England to begin the journey home. He boarded the SS City of Exeter on 12 Jul 1919 and he disembarked in Fremantle on 16 Aug 1919. Leslie was discharged by the 5th Military District on 11 Sep 1919.
Post War
In 1921 Leslie married Ruby Adelaide Brown in Fremantle. Graduated from Claremont Teachers Training College in 1921. Transferred from Rockingham Beach to Jandakot school on 12 Jul 1927. Retired 28 Nov 1945.
Electoral Roll entries: 1922 - 1925 with Ruby at State School Stirling, school teacher; 1931 at Coogee, teacher; 1936 -37 at Forrest Grove; 1949 retired at 84 Aberdeen street, Perth.
Notes
Leslie's father Mr. William Henry Elkington was a member of the Gosnells Roads Board from 1914-1919.