Leslie Parish Story

Private Leslie Parish - Regimental number 1174

Born in the year 1893 in Waggarandall, near Benalla, Victoria. Leslie was a laborer of 21 years and 10 months old when he enlisted on the 28th September 1914. His next of kin was his sister, Mrs Rose Goodman, Diggers Rest, Victoria. His mother was Rosabel Parish.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Reinforcement.
The 2nd Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Like the 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions it was recruited from New South Wales and, together with these battalions, formed the 1st Brigade.

The battalion was raised within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December. The battalion took part in the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 as part of the second and third waves, and was led by Lieutenant Colonel G. F. Braund, who was killed in action nine days later. On 6 August, the 1st Brigade led the charge at Lone Pine. Among the dead was the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel R. Scobie, killed during a Turkish counter-attack. The battalion served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December 1915.

Leslie embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 22 December 1914.
HMAT A32 Themistocles

Embarkment Roll
On the 2nd May 1915, Leslie Parish was declared,"Killed in Action." A witness Thornton, who was afterward killed himself,  told that Parish was killed by a sniper near Gune Lane (opposite Lone Pine).
An abandoned trench in front of Gun Lane, Gallipoli Peninsula.

Extract from the Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing

Author's note: Two men from Diggers Rest: Leslie Parish and Ernest James Tate enlisted on the same day. Ernest was killed seven days prior to Leslie at Gallipoli.

Leslie's place of burial Baby 700 Cemetery (Special Memorial 8), Gallipoli, Turkey
Leslie's name can be found on panel 34 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial (as indicated by the poppy on the plan)
Leslie Parish was awarded three medals: the 1914/15 Star Medal, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
Reference: