ROBERTS, Leonard Edmund Wadsworth (1895-1918).JPG)
L E W Roberts (War Service).
Leonard Edmund Wadsworth Roberts was born 3 February 1895, the son of Albert and Evaline Alice (West) Roberts, of Pakington Street, Geelong. He was enrolled as a day student at Geelong College from 1909 to 1912. After leaving school he went up to Ormond College to study Medicine, graduating MB BS.
He enlisted on 14 September 1917 as a Captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC), and embarked on 30 October, on
HMAT A60 Aeneas for France, and No 1 Australian General Hospital, Rouen. On 18 January 1918 he was posted as Medical Officer to 69 Training Battalion at Fovant, then to Machine Gun Training Depot at Grantham on 15 February. His next posting was the East Lancashire Field Ambulance on 6 April, then No 2 AGH, and finally as Medical Officer (Captain) to 30 Battalion, AIF, on 9 August 1918.
He died at Daours on 2 September 1918 from wounds received at Peronne, as described in a letter to his father from the Officer in Charge of Base Records, dated 17 March 1919:
'With reference to the report of the regrettable loss of your son, Captain L E W Roberts, Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) att. 30 Battalion, I am now in receipt of advice which shows that he was severely wounded in the back by shellfire on 28th August, 1918, when the Battalion was in support to 31st Battalion which had reached the line of the River Somme. On the 29th idem he was admitted to the 14th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred to the 41st CCS on the 31st idem. The same day he was again transferred to the 53rd CCS, France, where he died at 1.30 pm. on the 2nd September 1918, as the result of his wounds. He was buried in the Military Cemetery, Daours, France. The utmost care and attention is being devoted where possible to the graves of our Officers and men. It is understood that photographs are being taken as soon as possible and these will be transmitted to next-of-kin when available.’ Leonard Roberts is buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, France - Grave IV.E.30.
His brother,
Reginald Albert John Roberts (1892-1962), also attended Geelong College.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp96-97 (citing The University of Melbourne: Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants (1926); Australian War Memorial; National Archives; Photo The University of Melbourne: Record of Active Service.)