The AIF Project

Walter Leslie EARLE

Regimental number89
Date of birth30 July 1895
Place of birthBelton, South Australia
ReligionMethodist
OccupationFarmer
AddressBelton via Carrieton, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 8.5"
Weight157 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Francis Harriett Earle, Belton via Carrieton, South Australia
Previous military serviceMember, Belton Rifle Club (6 months)
Enlistment date12 July 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollDriver
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 10 December 1918
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Plaque in Queensland Garden of Remembrance
Discharge date10 August 1919
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 486/490 Pte Clarence Percy EARLE, 32nd Bn, returned to Australia, 2 January 1919; 2995 Pte John Oliver EARLE, 9th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 5 March 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

To be Driver in Headquarters Transport Section, Tel el Kebir, 16 March 1916.

Admitted to No 15 Australian Field Ambulance, 8 April 1916, and transferred to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station the same day (mumps); to No 15 Australian Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 17 April 1916; discharged to duty, 21 April 1916.

Admitted to No 15 Australian Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 8 May 1916 (gastritis); rejoined 32nd Bn, Ferry Post, 12 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Admitted to 1st Anzac Rest Station, 30 December 1916 (otitis); transferred to No 36 Casualty Clearing Station, 31 December 1916; to No 4 General Hospital, 1 January 1917 (otorrhoea); marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 8 January 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 15 January 1917; rejoined 32nd Bn, 16 January 1917.

On leave to England, 10 May 1917; rejoined unit, 24 May 1917.

Admitted to No 8 Field Ambulance, 19 September 1917, and transferred to No 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station the same day (varicocele); to No 31 Ambulance Train, 20 September 1917; to No 22 General Hospital, Camiers, 21 September 1917; to England, 23 September 1917; to Military Hospital, Eastbourne, 23 September 1917; to No 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 19 October 1917; discharged, 22 October 1917, and marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, the same day.

Marched into No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 27 October 1917.

Classified B1B, 7 November 1917.

Classified B1A2, 1 January 1918.

Admitted to Fovant Military Hospital, 26 January 1918 (ingrown toenail), and discharged to Training Depot the same day.

Marched into No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 9 February 1918.

Marched into Overseas Training Bde, Longbridge Deverill, 28 February 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 28 March 1918; marched into Australian Intermediate Base Depot, Le Havre, 29 March 1918.

Proceeded to unit, 6 April 1918; rejoined 32nd Bn, 10 April 1918.

Wounded in action, 24 April 1918; admitted to No 15 Australian Field Ambulance, 24 April 1918 (gunshot wound, left leg); transferred to No 4 Casualty Clearing Station, 24 April 1918; to No 61 Casualty Clearing Station, 24 April 1918; to No 3 Ambulance Train, 25 April 1918; to No 10 General Hospital, Rouen, 25 April 1918 (gas poisoning); to England, 3 May 1918; to No 5 Southern General Hospital, Portsmouth, 4 May 1918 (gunshot wound, left thigh, severe); to No No 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 15 May 1918; discharged, 3 June 1918, and marched into No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, the same day.

Admitted to Brigade Hospital, Hurdcott, 5 June 1918 (gunshot wound left thigh).

Admitted to Fovant Military Hospital, 17 June 1918 (gunshot wound, left thigh); discharged to Training Depot, 1 November 1918.

Marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 14 November 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Somali', 10 December 1918; disembarked Adelaide, 1 February 1919; discharged Adelaide (medically unfit), 10 August 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death18 April 1962
Age at death66
SourcesNAA: B2455, EARLE Walter Leslie

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