HOBBINS, Leslie

Leslie, a twenty two year old Shearer, was born at Mudgee NSW to John and Mary Ann Hobbins.  He enlisted at Inverell on 23 December 1915 and joined the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs when they left Inverell on 12 January 1916 for the Narrabri and Armidale camps.

He became a member of the 33rd Battalion D Company which trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to leaving Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May. After nine weeks at sea the Battalion arrived in England where further training was undertaken at Salisbury Plain prior to crossing to France in November. 

During the Battle of Messines in June 1917 Leslie was wounded, however he was able to rejoin his unit after two weeks.  In October he was wounded again and after treatment for a gunshot wound to his face, returned to his unit in November. Shortly afterwards he was appointed Lance Corporal. Leslie was wounded a third time in March 1918 and evacuated to King George Hospital, Stamford, England with a severe gunshot wound to his face. He returned to Australia in April 1919 and was discharged three months later.

Whilst in England Leslie married Lucy Pembroke in August 1918 at St Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church. After the War they lived at Kempsey NSW where he worked as a Mail Contractor. Leslie died in 1962 and is buried at Kempsey East Cemetery.

At Inverell Lance Corporal Leslie Hobbins has his name inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll.