Willoughby, Leslie Ernest (Sergeant, b.1896 – d.1917)

Places	Africa: Egypt, Cairo Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Ashfield Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Canterbury
Accession Number	AWM2021.383.5
Collection type	Private Record
Record type	Collection
Measurement	Extent: 1 cm; Wallet/s: 1
Object type	Letter, Postcard
Maker	Willoughby, Leslie Ernest
Place made	Egypt
Date made	1916
Access	Open
Copyright	Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain This item is in the Public Domain
Copying Provisions	Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.

Description

Collection relating to the First World War service of 3962 Sergeant Leslie Ernest Willoughby, 4th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, Egypt, 1916.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains one letter written by Sergeant Willoughby to his sister Ivy Emily Willoughby, dated 3 March 1916. The letter is written on 17 postcards, within a 20 postcard booklet depicting Egyptian people and famous landscapes. In this letter he writes regarding his movements, health, sightseeing tours of Egypt, pay allotments and a potential transfer to the artillery. He also mentions seeing his brothers 3963 Corporal Spencer Gordon Willoughby and 2931 Private Arthur Edward Willoughby, and other servicemen from home, and sends well wishes his friends and family back home.

History / Summary

Sergeant Leslie Willoughby enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 15 August 1915 in Sydney, New South Wales. Sergeant Willoughby arrived in Egypt for overseas service on 7 January 1916. From 3 April 1916 Sergeant Willoughby served with 4 Battalion in France. On 24 March 1917 he was awarded a Military Medal for bravery in the field. Sergeant Leslie Ernest Willoughby was killed in action on 5 May 1917. He is commemorated at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.