WHITE, Leslie G

Leslie White was one of the group of twelve World War 1 volunteers photographed at Inverell Railway Station just prior to their departure on 21 August 1914. The son of Samuel White, Leslie was working as a Clerk at Inverell prior to his enlistment.  He was just nineteen and a half years old.

Trooper White, a member of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, embarked on the HMAT A16 Star of Victoria in Sydney on 20 October 1914.  Sadly he became ill on the ship, suffering with typhoid fever and meningitis. He was transferred to hospital at Albany in Western Australia. His mother and sister were on their way to Albany when he died.

Trooper White was buried with full military honors in the Presbyterian section of the Albany Cemetery.  Two hundred officers and recuits were present and the streets lined with hundreds of residents as his funeral procession proceeded to the cemetery.

Even though he didn't make it to the battlefields, Trooper White was most likely Inverell's first casualty of the War. His name is recorded on the Inverell Cenotaph and a Kurrajong tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade in his memory.