Tasmanian War Casualties

WW1

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Beswick, Leslie James

Born 26^th July 1894 North Down Tasmania the son of James Thomas and Harriett Beswick (nee Clark) a labourer he embarked Brisbane 29^th June 1915 on board “HMAT Aeneas” with the 26^th Infantry Battalion.

He was killed in action 18^th November 1915 on the Gallipoli Peninsula and is commemorated in the Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.

His brother Lance Corporal Morton Ernest Berswick (No 606) was killed in action 28^th March 1917 in France and is commemorated on the Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, Peronne, France

KILLED AT GALLIPOLI

AN ULVERSTONE VOLUNTEER'S DEATH.

Mrs. Beswick of Ulverstone had the misfortune to be one of the mothers called upon to mourn the loss of a son who gave his life at Gallipoli for the Empire. She has just received a letter from Capt. R. E. Smith conveying particulars of the manner in which he met his end. Writing from Virdala Palace, Malta, he states: — ‘The Turks were driving a tunnel towards our trenches at Walker's Ridge, Anzac, with the intention of blowing us up. We were driving to intercept them. Only one man could work at the end of the tunnel, while another filled sand bags with the loosened earth, which was then carried out by other men. For several days we could hear the Turks picking, and it was our intention to get close enough to them to blow up their tunnel. We had done this successfully on more than one occasion. On November I5, 1915, a Queenslander was picking at the end of the tunnel where your son was filling sand bags near him when the Turks exploded a mine which they had placed in the end of their own tunnel. A rescue party was at once set to work, and the Queenslander was got out unconscious but afterwards recovered ; but your son was found to be dead when they were reached. Your son was in my company at Ulverstone (I5 Battalion), and this made me feel the loss more, he was a good boy, and fully realised the danger of the work, but undertook it with out any hesitation. You may be very proud of him. Tasmania will reckon him amongst its heroes. His grave is on a slope overlooking the Aegean Sea with the Greek islands of Imros and Samothrace in view. There are a good few graves there of those who, like your son, died bravely fighting for their country and loved ones. I know what a grief it must be to you but I think it will be a consolation to know ho did his duty well, and has set an example for others to follow. With such men the British Empire cannot go under.' Capt. Smith is O.C., C. Co. 26th Batt., 7th Brigade., A.l.F.

North Western Advocate 11^th May 1916

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Tasmanian War Casualties, Honouring the past, building understanding.