Major Leslie George Fussell

Ranks Held Captain, Lieutenant, Major
Birth Date 1884-11-03
Birth Place Australia: Victoria, Ballarat
Death Date 1960-06-18
Final Rank Major
Service Australian Imperial Force
Unit 17th Australian Infantry Battalion
Place Ballarat
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1919-07-11
Published in London Gazette in 1918-12-31
Published in London Gazette in 1917-06-04
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-10-30
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-05-23
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-10-04
Description

Leslie George Fussell was born at Ballarat on 3 November 1883. He was married to Ruby Evelyn Fussell and was employed as a bank clerk, when he was commissioned into the Australian Imperial Force as a lieutenant on 7 May 1915. He departed Australia with the 17th Battalion aboard HMAT Themistocles only five days later.

The 17th Battalion trained in Egypt before landing at Anzac Cove on 20 August 1915. At Gallipoli, the Battalion participated in the last action of the August Offensive and then spent the remainder of its time defending Quinn's Post. After the evacuation, Fussell proceeded to France with the 17th Battalion and by June 1916 had become a captain. He fought at Pozières between 25 July and 5 August 1916 and in Belgium until the end of the year.

Fussell spent most of 1917 away from the 17th Battalion as between 3 January and 23 July 1917, he was seconded for duty to the Ist Anzac Corps School. He was awarded the Military Cross on 5 June 1917 for his consistent devotion to duty, and was promoted to major on 22 June 1917. After a short period back with the 17th Battalion, hewas attached to the 2nd Australian Division as a brigade major trainee from 13 August 1917. He returned to his unit on 23 November 1917 and remained with the 17th Battalion through most of 1918.

The 17th Battalion helped to thwart the German Spring Offensive of 1918 after which the Allied armies turned to the offensive. During this period, the 17th Battalion participated in a number of battles: Amiens on 8 August, the attack on Mont St Quentin on 31 August, and the forcing of the Beaurevoir Line around Montbrehain on 3 October. Montbrehain was the battalion's last battle as it was in training when the armistice was declared. Active throughout 1919 with demobilisation of the AIF, Leslie Fussell returned to Australia in early 1920 and his military appointment was terminated on 16 June 1920.

Rolls

  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Major
    London Gazette
    11 July 1919 on page 8830 at position 78
    Commonwealth Gazette
    30 October 1919 on page 1654 at position 99
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Major
    London Gazette
    31 December 1918 on page 15227 at position 44
    Commonwealth Gazette
    23 May 1919 on page 879 at position 101
  • First World War Embarkation Roll:

    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Lieutenant
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Unit
    17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Major
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Unit
    17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Major
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Unit
    17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Major
  • Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

    Unit
    17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Captain
  • First World War Nominal Roll:

    Unit
    17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Major
  • Honours and Awards:

    Unit
    17th Australian Infantry Battalion
    Conflict
    First World War, 1914-1918
    Rank
    Captain
    London Gazette
    04 June 1917 on page 5485 at position 20
    Commonwealth Gazette
    04 October 1917 on page 2627 at position 1

Timeline

Date of birth 03 November 1884
Date of enlistment 07 May 1915
Date of embarkation 12 May 1915
Date of recommendation honour or award 03 March 1917
Date of recommendation honour or award 07 September 1918
Date of recommendation honour or award 24 September 1918
Date of recommendation honour or award 30 January 1919
Date returned to Australia 22 January 1920
Date of death 18 June 1960