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Leslie Charles Phair Grundy - Information

Leslie belonged to a Picton family, who had a property in Cox’s River. Here, Leslie was born and raised by John and Ann Grundy. The Grundys had a lengthy history in the area, Leslie’s grandparents settled there in the early 1800s. Leslie attended Public School in Cox’s River, and when he was older, worked as a labourer. However, the reach of the war would enter this tiny rural town. In January 1916, his cousin, Fred Ditzell, enlisted in the AIF. Just after he turned 21, Leslie also joined up, volunteering on the 29th of August 1916 at the Royal Australian Showground. He trained in Sydney, before going to Kiama, where he was posted to the 5th Reinforcements, 39th Battalion. He then boarded the HMAT Benalla in Sydney on the 9th of November 1916 for overseas.

Leslie landed in Devonport in early January 1917, and was marched out to the 10th Training Battalion in Durrington. However, he soon began to feel very ill. He reported to Fargo Military Hospital in Rollestone with influenza on the 30th of January 1917. Sadly, the infection grew worse, and he died of bronchial pneumonia on the 20th of February 1917. He was buried in the Durrington Cemetery. His parents were informed of the loss of their beloved son. Unfortunately, this was not the only sad news to befall the Grundy family. Leslie’s cousin, Fred, was killed in action in October.