Private Harry Cowdrey Lester

Service number 2538
Birth Date 1899
Birth Place Australia: Victoria, Lakes Entrance
Death Date 1917-09-26
Death Place Belgium
Also known as Harry Charles Lester
Final Rank Private
Service Australian Imperial Force
Unit 57th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Private Harry Cowdrey Lester (2538, 57th Australian Infantry Battalion) was born at Lakes Entrance, Victoria, in 1899. He was working as an assistant restaurant keeper when he enlisted in January 1916 under the alias of Harry Charles Lester. Harry was working as a signaller in the Battalion Headquarters at Glencourse Wood during the Battle of Polygon Wood when the sap was hit by a shell and destroyed. He was buried where he fell but his grave could not be located after the war, so Harry is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. His mother later wrote that Harry was aged 17 years 10 months at the time of his death.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 1899
Date of enlistment 04 January 1916
Date of embarkation 25 September 1916
Date of death 26 September 1917
Date of fate 26 September 1917