L/Cpl
William Frederick Leslie

Informations sur naissance

Date de naissance:
05/03/1887
Lieu de naissance:
Limestone Island, Northland, New Zealand

Informations générales

Profession:
Bushman

Informations service militaire

Pays:
New Zealand
Force armée:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Lance Corporal
Numéro de service:
24/214
Incorporation date:
29/05/1915
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand
Unités:
 —  New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 2nd Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
04/02/1918
Lieu de décès:
Reutel, Beselare, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
30

Cimetière

Polygon Wood Cemetery
Parcelle: /
Rangée: C
Tombe: 3

Distinctions et médailles 3

1914-15 Star
Médaille
British War Medal
Médaille
Victory Medal
Médaille

Points d'intérêt 3

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement
#3 Lieu du décès (approximatif)

Mon histoire

Lance Corporal William Frederick Leslie served in the 2nd Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade, of the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade part of the New Zealand Division.

On the 1st of February 1918 the New Zealand Rifle Brigade returned to the front line, relieving the 1st New Zealand Brigade at Polygon Wood. The 2nd, 1st and 4th Battalions went into the frontline, the 3rd Battalion was in reserve East of the Butte, which served as the Battalion’s Headquarters. The 2nd Battalion was positioned on the left flank of the Brigade, at the hamlet of Reutel.

On the 2nd of February 1918 there was great German artillery activity on all parts of the sector. The Butte was subjected to a heavy bombardment with gas- and high-explosive shells. In the evening a party of about twenty Germans raided an outpost of the 1st Battalion. The four men of the 1st Battalion in the listening post, were all wounded. When the German raiders, under cover of hand grenades and pistol fire, tried to push through to the main trench, they tried to take the wounded men prisoner. In this attempt, however, they were countered by section of New Zealanders. The German raiders were compelled to withdraw, leaving three dead close to the wire.

On February the 4th, in retaliation for the German shelling on the 2nd, the allied artillery carried out a heavy bombardment on the German sector, in front of the Divisional front. The Germans responded with a steady bombardment on the New-Zealand lines with “sneezing-gas”, throughout the 5th and heavy shell fire on the 7th.

Lance Corporal William Frederick Leslie was killed on the 4th of February 1918. He was probably killed by the heavy German shell fire in these early days of February 1918. Lance Corporal William Frederick Leslie was buried in Polygon Wood Cemetery.

Sources 1

Austin W.S., The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own), (Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2007), pg. 262-264.
Sources utilisées

Complément d’informations 5