219566 Lt. Leslie William Roy Warner Australian Imperial Force B Company 34th Btn. from:Annandale, New South Wales (d.8th Jun 1917) Leslie Warner was my Great Uncle. He left school at the age of 14 and a half and was employed by Messrs Fairfax and Roberts, a leading jewellers, in Sydney, where he made rapid progress and possessing marked ability in art, he became valuable as a jewellery designer. Being a keen military enthusiast, at the age of 18 he had attained his 1st lieutenancy in the Militia forces and it was just at this time that war broke out; but his parents would not consent to his enlisting, he being too young. However, the call was too strong, and at the age of 20 1/2 years, after having acted as drill instructor for three months, he resigned his commission and enlisted as a private with his men, who sailed from Australia in May 1916. They naturally admired him on this account. His good services were quickly recognised, and shortly after his arrival in England he was granted a commission. When the battalion moved across to France, he was chosen as scout officer, and did good work in this capacity, gaining the entire confidence of the men under his command by his pluck and brave deeds. he resigned his position to take part in the battle of Messines, where he was mortally wounded shortly after the hop-over on 7 June 1917, and died on the 8th. His parents never got over his death
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