The AIF Project

Leonard George Prentice ERREY

Regimental number1137
Place of birthCamperdown, Victoria
SchoolCamperdown State School, Victoria
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationCarpenter
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Next of kinMother, Mrs H Errey, Scott Street, Camperdown, Victoria
Previous military serviceCamperdown Rifle Club
Enlistment date16 August 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll16 September 1914
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name8th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/25/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 22 December 1914
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll8th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Cross


Extremely courageous and useful work in patrol work, obtaining important information. A splendid leader and absolutely fearless. (Queant and Phonville 19 April 1917).
Recommendation date: 27 April 1917

Victoria Cross ( Awarded Companion of the Distinguished Service Order)


Work during attack on Polygon Wood on the 20 September 1917.
Recommendation date: 27 September 1917

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and gazetted, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 30448 (28 December 1917); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 (18 April 1918).

FateDied of wounds 4 October 1917
Place of death or woundingYpres, Belgium
Age at death25
Age at death from cemetery records25
Place of burialMenin Road South Military Cemetery (Plot II, Row J, Grave No. 9), Ypres, Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
52
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in Camperdown Cemetery, Victoria. Parents: William Henry and Hannah ERREY, Camperdown, Victoria
Medals

Distinguished Service Order

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After the objective had been captured an enemy strong point caused many casualties. With four men he rushed through the barrage and attacked it under heavy machine gun fire, and captured the position, with five officers, 60 other prisoners and two machine guns. His courageous and determined action undoubtedly saved many lives and restored a critical situation.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 110
Date: 25 July 1918

Military Cross

''For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When commanding a patrol he encountered an enemy part of greatly superior numbers. He gave them fight and drove them off. He handled his men with great skill and got back without casualty.''
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189
Date: 8 November 1917

Family/military connectionsBrother: 6452 Pte Edwin Benjamin ERREY, 24th Bn, died of wounds, 3 September 1918; Cousin: 876 Pte George Benjamin ERREY, 46th Bn, killed in action, 20 October 1917.
Other detailsMedals: Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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