Australian Flying Corps – The Harrower Collection

35th BATTALION - Australian Flying Corps

2nd Lieutenant: 817 Leslie "Les" Herbert IRWIN.

Born: 1st May 1898. Wickham, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:17339/1898.

Married:

Wife:

Died: 28th January 1985. New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:4773/1985.

Father: George Henry Irwin.

Mother: Amelia J Irwin.

INFORMATION

Leslie Herbert IRWIN was an 18 year old Bank-Clerk at Wickham in NSW when he enlisted in the AIF on the 9th of March 1916.

He was appointed a Corporal on the same day that he embarked from Australia with “C” Company of the 35th Battalion (Newcastle’s Own) on the 1st of May 1916, arriving at Plymouth in England on the 9th of July 1916.

On the 5th of September 1916 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and deployed across to France with the Battalion on the 21st of November 1916.

On the 14th of January 1917, near Armentieres, he was severely Wounded-in-Action, when struck in the abdomen and top of both thighs, by a bullet. He was evacuated and admitted to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne. On the 20th he was invalided across to England and admitted to the Southern General Hospital at Birmingham.

On the 25th of April 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, where he developed ‘scarlet fever’. He was released from the hospital on the 2nd of May 1917 and marched in to the No.1 Command Depot on the 30th of May.

He spent the period 30th May 1917 to the 27th June 1917 at the No.1 and No.3 Command Depots, both regaining his strength and being employed as an Instructor.

On the 20th of October 1917 he marched in to the No.1 School of Military Aeronautics at Reading, and was appointed a Cadet. On the 20th of May 1918 he was taken-on-strength by the 6th Training Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps, at Minchinhampton.

Photograph of Cadet members of the Australian Flying Corps learning at Queens College, in Oxford. Printed in the The Australasian, 20th July 1918.

Cadet L.H. IRWIN is indicated by the red circle - Standing in Rear Row, 1st on left.

On the 1st of October 1918 he was appointed a Flying Officer (Pilot) and appointed a 2nd-Lieutenant.

On the 18th of November 1918 he crashed an aircraft, but was not badly hurt and did not report to a Medical Officer.

On the 1st of January 1919 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

He undertook ‘Non Military Experience’ (Experience in construction of aero engines, at the Dudbridge Iron Works Limited) for the period 2nd of April 1919 to the 7th of July 1919, and was then granted an extension of his N.M.E. from the 8th of July to the 7th of September 1919.

He was then granted leave from the 8th to the 24th of September 1919.

He returned to Australia in January of 1920 and his appointment as an Officer was terminated on the 11th of May 1920.

He went on to become President of both the Newcastle Branch of the RS&SLLA and of the Newcastle Aero Club. He was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) and was a Member of the House of Representatives (Member of the Australian Parliament for Mitchell).

Name	IRWIN, Leslie Herbert
Award	The Order of the British Empire - Member (Civil)(Imperial)
Post-Nominal	MBE
Date Granted	12th of June, 1958
State	n/a
Suburb	n/a
Postcode	n/a
Citation	For service to the community.
Announcement Event	n/a
Award ID	1084261

At the Anzac Day Ceremony at Westminster Abbey, at London in 1968, he laid a wreath on behalf of the 3rd Division-9th Brigade Association.

He died on the 28th of January 1985, aged 86.

(Bill Durant: 2018)

Family Information

Leslie was a single 18 year old Bank Clerk from Flemming Street, Wickham via Newcastle, N.S.W. upon enlistment. (Bank of New South Wales)

Friday 2 November 1962.

Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), Friday 2 November 1962 (No.108), page 3259

Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction; 24/01/2018-25/01/2018.

Australian Flying Corps - 34th BATTALION A.I.F.

Lieutenant: Elias Adrian PHILLIPS.

Born: 16th August 1892. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:2667/1892.

Married: (1) 18th August 1922. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:206/1922.

Wife: (1) Mary M Phillips. nee: Crannis. (1894-1982)

Married: (2) 1939. Waverley, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:16873/1939.

Wife: (2) Mavis Phillips. nee: Gorman. (1909-1971)

Died: 22nd August 1966. Rye, Victoria, Australia.

Father: Jacob Phillips. (1868-1941)

Mother: Sophia Sarah Phillips. nee: Moses. (1859-1946)

INFORMATIONElias Adrian Phillips served with 25th Infantry when he attended Officers School at Duntroon, Victoria before he enlisting with No:4 Squadron Australian Flying Cops on the 23rd December 1916 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and

embarked from Melbourne on the 17th January 1917 and disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 27th March 1917. Elias was marched in the the School of Instruction in Aviation and on the 30th May was admitted to hospital with a Fractured Tibia and Injuries to his Face and Legs from an accident at Training School.

Elias was transferred to the 34th Battalion AIF on the 19th April 1918 and proceeded overseas for France via Southampton on the 28th June and was Taken on in Strength on the 4th July 1918 in the Field.

Rain commenced to fall when the Battalion moved out on 9th July 1918 to Querrieu, where the Companies settled down in settled down in shelters and dugouts on the north side of the village, whilst Battalion Headquarters were in the village. On 11th July 1918 Advance Parties left by motor lorry for Vaux and marched into the Trenches at Sailly Le Sec. The following day the Battalion marched to La Neuville and after resting until dark marched to sailly Le Sec and relieved the 46th Battalion. Out Front Line consisted of 14 Posts, which were manned by "B" and "D" Companies. "C" Company was in Support and "A" in Reserve. No Man's Land was thoroughly patrolled during the night, whilst enemy Machine Gun Fire was most active from a series of Strong Posts which he was holding. This resulted in the death of 2nd Lieutenant: 2036 Vere "Vic" Cumming STEVENSON and several Other Ranks. The enemy was Continually shelling Sally Le Sec and the Back Areas, which gave the Ration Carriers a very rough time.

On the 14th the Battalion "B" Team was cancelled and all the men were utilized in the Line, including the Bandsmen. Major: Harry Lambert Edward Dixon WHEELER. rejoined the Battalion whist here. The Front Line Posts were gradually being connected and dugouts built, but the ground having a bed of chalk and stone, the digging was very strenuous. On the 17th the enemy shelling increased, causing several casualties, including Lieutenant: 21 James BRUCE, killed in action and Captain: Herbert Henry PERCY wounded. On the 18th July a Patrol of 1 Officer and 3 men encountered a Party of 12 of the enemy who were establishing a Machine gun Post in No Man's Land, which was immediately bombed by our men and retired on the run. At 2:30 am the following morning Lieutenant: 561 Stanley Arthur SMITH, Scout Officer, and 15 Other Ranks raided two enemy Posts which had been occupied the previous night. However both these Posts were found to be unoccupied.

Aerial activity was general over this sector. An enemy Plane was driven down and the Pilot was seen to descend by parachute and land safely. On the 20 July the Battalion was relieved by the 33rd Battalion and marched to the reserve Area at Vaire sous Corbie. Whilst here Working Parties were supplied for the digging of new Communication Trenches in the Forward Area and the men also had the opportunity of obtaining baths. On the 24th the 35th Battalion was relieved in this Sector North of Hamel, with "A" and "C" Companies in the Front Line, "D" in Support and "B" in Reserve. Shell were falling fairly heavily on our Support Lines and Cookers, whilst the Ration Carriers were continually being strafed. One of our Planes at night dropped six Bombs on our Sector, apparently by mistake, but no damage resulted.

On the 27th July Lieutenant: William Henry SALVATORI. walked out into No Man's Land and did not return. Search Parties failed to find him and he was recorded "Missing", apparently a Prisoner of War. On the night of 29th July Lieutenant:561 Stanley Arthur SMITH with a Patrol attacked and enemy Strong Post and after a fight with bombs and Rifle Fire, captured one wounded prisoner. The following day the enemy Artillery was quiet during the day but at 9:30 pm opened up a severe Bombardment on the Front and Support Lines. On the 31st of July having been relieved by the 42nd Battalion, the men marched to bivouac at Daours. The weather was wet and the ground muddy. The day was spent in reorganizing the Battalion and visiting the Baths.

34th Battalion War Diary

Elias was granted leave to England from the 1st December 1918 and whist on leave he was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st January 1919 and embarked for France the same day. Elias remained in France until we was demobilized back to England on the 21st of April and returned to Australia on the 8th October and was discharged from the AIF on the 15th January 1920.

Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950

Family InformationElias was a single 23 year old Mercantile Broker from "Uralla" 22 Bayswater Road, Darlinghurst via Sydney, N.S.W. upon enlistment. He served during World War 2 service. No:261639.

Military Records