HOWSAM, Leslie George (1888-1959)Leslie George Howsam was born on 9 September 1888, the only son of George Howsam and Hannah nee Banks, of Hesse Street, Queenscliff. Educated at Geelong College, entering 1902, he was in the 1st Football XVIII in his last year, 1905.
He enlisted (No 5083) in the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 27 October 1914 as a Corporal, and embarked on
HMAT A51 Chilka on 2 February 1915 for Egypt and Gallipoli. He spent six months on Gallipoli, and was at the graveside when his College compatriot,
Major Ernest A E Gregory (1882-1915), was buried at Ari Burnu Cemetery, Anzac. He then served through the campaigns in Sinai, Palestine and Syria from January 1916 until July 1919, with the Australian Mounted Division Train. He was promoted Lieutenant on 2 January 1917, and a year later Captain. He embarked for England on 14 July 1919 taking the 10% Leave, on
HMT Magdalena. Howsam returned to Australia on
HMT Morea, embarking on 18 October 1919.
On 5 June 1920 he married Lydia Alice Fleming, daughter of Andrew Fleming and Lydia Alice nee Bunnett.
'The 3rd Light Horse played a defensive role throughout the Gallipoli Campaign and was in reserve when its sister regiments attacked as part of the August offensive. It left Gallipoli on 14 December 1915. Back in Egypt, the 3rd Light Horse joined the Anzac Mounted Division. Between January and May 1916, the regiment was deployed to protect the Nile valley from bands of pro-Turkish Senussi Arabs. On 18 May, as part of its parent brigade, it joined the forces defending the Suez Canal. The 1st Light Horse Brigade played a significant role in turning back the Turkish advance on the canal at the battle of Romani on 4 August. In ensuing days the regiments of the brigade participated in the immediate follow-up of the defeated Turks, but were soon withdrawn to rest.
The 3rd Light Horse rejoined the Allied advance across the Sinai in November and was subsequently involved in the fighting to secure the Turkish outposts on the Palestine frontier – Maghdaba on 23 December 1916 and Rafa on 9 January 1917. A stint of protective duty along the line of communications through the Sinai followed. The 3rd’s next major engagement was the abortive second battle of Gaza on 19 April. Gaza finally fell on 7 November, after a wide outflanking move via Beersheba, in which the 1st Light Horse Brigade played a part. With the capture of Gaza, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed.
The 3rd Light Horse Regiment participated in the advance to Jaffa that followed, and was then committed to operations to clear and occupy the west bank of the Jordan River. It was involved in the Amman (24–27 February) and Es Salt (30 April–4 May) raids and the repulse of a major German and Turkish attack on 14 July 1918. The final British offensive of the campaign was launched along the Mediterranean coast on 19 September 1918, with the Anzac Mounted Division taking part in a subsidiary effort east of the Jordan aimed at Amman. Turkey surrendered on 30 October 1918.
The 3rd Light Horse Regiment sailed for Australia on 16 March 1919 without their horses, which were either shot or transferred to Indian cavalry units.' Leslie Howsam died in 1959.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 221 (citing Pegasus; National Archives; Australian War Memorial; National Archives; Pegasus).