Next of kin plaque : Private Leslie Francis Essex, 51st Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'LESLIE FRANCIS ESSEX'.

Born in Perth, Western Australia, 18 year old Leslie Francis Essex was employed as a post office telephonist when he enlisted in the AIF on 10 January 1916 with the permission of his mother and step-father. He had already served for six months in the 86th Infantry (Western Australian Rifles). In June, after basic training Essex was posted as a private, service number 2404 to the 5th Reinforcements for the 51st Battalion. He embarked for overseas from Fremantle on HMAT A66 Uganda in September.

After further training in England Essex joined his battalion in France in December. Suffering from frost bitten fingers and toes, and a septic leg, he was evacuated to England for medical treatment in February 1917 and had sufficiently recovered by May to be able to take a short period of leaver before undertaking further in England. He rejoined his battalion in Belgium on 12 August.

While serving in the Wulverghem Sector on 26 August Essex received a shrapnel wound to the head. Evacuated to the 13th Field Ambulance he died there the same day. He is buried in the Kandahar Farm Cemetery in Belgium.

This commemorative plaque was sent to his mother, Mary Ann Greenham, in September 1922.