| Regimental number | 4898 |
| Place of birth | Sydney, New South Wales |
| School | Public School, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Boot salesman |
| Address | 551 Crown Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 21 |
| Height | 5' 7.75" |
| Weight | 126 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, D J Abbott , 551 Crown Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Served in the Compulsory Training Scheme. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Holsworthy, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 1st Battalion, 15th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/18/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A15 Star Of England on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 53rd Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 21 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 6), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 156 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Sydney, 8 March 1916. Marched out 1st Bn, 15th Reinforcements and taken on strength of 53rd Bn, Ismalia, 20 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 28 June 1916. Wounded in action and reported missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Inquiry, held in the field, 2 September 1917, pronounced fate as 'killed in action, 19 July 1916'. Red Cross File No. 00102014 contains two witness statements: (1) 2050 Sergeant J. O'Driscoll, 53rd Bn (patient, 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England): '[Abbot (sic)] Was in D Coy - 2nd reinf - came from Sydney. He was killed about 50 yards from the front line at Armentieres. He was badly knocked about. I did not see him hit, but saw his body afterwards. He was knocked during the hop-over and saw him when coming back. It was too "hot" to stop there long. I took his wallet from him, also some letters - the letters i have since mislaid. I have still got the wallet.' Second witness, 'W.G.J.' [not further identified], wrote: 'I saw the wallet which O'Driscoll states was Abbot's (sic), but it did not have Abbot's name on it. It had the following address written in pencil. Miss L. Carpenter, "St Marlo", 30, Cavendish St. Stanmore, Sydney. Miss M. Warne, "Cisco", Garnett St., Dulwich Hill, Sydney. On the flap: To Roy from Tily.' Third statement, 4821 Sergeant N.L. MAWSON, 53rd Bn (patient, hospital indecipherable), 1 May 1917: 'Informant states that Abbot's (sic) Coy., when they got back all said that Abbot was gone, killed by a shell. Pte Knight who was near him also told me this.' David James Abbott, David Roylestone Leslie Abbott's father, requested personal inscription on headstone to which the officer in charge of Base Records responded, 7 February 1922, 'with reference to the circular form A, completed by you on which you intimate that you desire a personal inscription placed on the permanent headstone over the grave of you son, the late No. 4898 Private D.R.L Abbott, 53rd Battalion, I should be glad if you would choose a short verse or text containing not more than 66 letters and forward same to this office at the earliest possible moment. The soldier's name, regimental description and date of death, will be inscribed free.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | Red Cross File No 00102014 |
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