The AIF Project

Arthur Donald LEIGH

Regimental number247
Place of birthLandsborough, Queensland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFitter
AddressMusgrave Street, Workshops Estate, North Ipswich, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 8.75"
Weight127 lbs
Next of kinFather, Henry Thomas Leigh, Musgrave Street, Workshops Estate, North Ipswich, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date21 July 1915
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name31st Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/48/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A41 Bakara on 5 November 1915
Two ships sailed from Melbourne carrying men from the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C, and D: HMAT A62,'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915, and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll31st Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
119
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 5 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915.

Found guilty, Moascar, 3 June 1916, of losing an article of clothing by neglect (hat), 1 June 1916: awarded 24 hours Field Punishment No 2 by Commanding Officer.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 1 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Handwritten note on B.103: 'Buried in vicinity of Fleurbaix, Sh.36 N.W.'

Note on Red Cross File No 1580611: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10.10.1919.'

Statement, Red Cross File No 1580611, 1568 Pte E.B. GEBBETT, 31st Bn (patient, 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell, England), [?] December 1916: 'I knew Leigh, he got shot in the leg and was out beyond the German lines and could not get back, in a charge at Fleurbaix in the day of July 20th. 1916.'

Second statement, 253 Pte P.H. MARTIN, 31st Bn (patient, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, England), 26 January 1916: 'Leigh was struck by a shell in the first line German trenches suring our attack at Fromelles on July 19th 1916. We were digging ourselves in at the time, it would have been about 6 p.m. I saw him drop. I believe he was killed instantly, but I was not near enough to him to say for sure.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, LEIGH Arthur Donald
Red Cross file 1580611

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