People Australia

Leslie Stuart Chandler, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

LESLIE STUART CHANDLER was born at Tamworth on 10th July, 1880, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Chandler. He was educated at the Superior Public School, Tamworth, and Tamworth Grammar School.

He entered the service of the Bank on 30th November, 1898, at Tamworth. In 1906 he went to Inverell, and in 1911 to Armidale as accountant. From July, 1913, he spent a few months in the Inspector’s Department at Head Office, and proceeded to Batlow later in the year as acting manager.

He enlisted on 15th September, 1915, and saw three and three-quarter years of service in Egypt and France, originally with the 18th Battalion.

Shortly after the Battle of Pozieres he received promotion to the rank of corporal, and served with his battalion and the 5th Brigade in the Battles of Pozieres, Flers, Bullecourt, Passchendaele, and through the long cold winter on the Somme in 1916 and 1917.

He received his sergeant’s stripes on 11th July, 1917, and was subsequently attached to the 2nd Divisional Gas Services and the Australian Corps Gas School during the final operations of the war.