Next of kin plaque: Lieutenant Leslie Byrne, 46th Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'LESLIE BYRNE'. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw.

Born in Trentham, Victoria, Leslie 'Curly' Byrne was a 21 year old driver from Brunswick, Melbourne, when he enlisted in the AIF on 14 September 1914. After training at Broadmeadows Camp he was posted a private, service number 414, to D Company, 14th Battalion. The unit sailed from Melbourne on 22 December, aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses.

Arriving in Egypt on 31 January 1915 the battalion underwent further training before landing at Gallipoli on the afternoon of 25 April. Byrne received gunshot wounds to both his legs on 3 May and was evacuated to England. He rejoined his battalion in September.

In Egypt in 1916 Byrne transferred to 46th Battalion in March and was promoted corporal. In France he was promoted sergeant in August. Byrne was wounded at Gueudecourt on 16 November and did not return to his battalion until January 1917. In May he was appointed company sergeant major. Two months later he was sent to officer training school in England. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in December and returned to his battalion in France on Christmas Eve.

Byrne was awarded the Military Cross for an action that took place near Albert on 3 April 1918. The recommendation for the award reads: ' During the heavy bombardment by the enemy prior to his attack on the railway embankment near ALBERT on the morning of April 3rd 1918, this officer's Company Commander has become a casualty. He took command and rallied the company, which had suffered many casualties, leading them to the enemy side of the embankment to meet the attack. While on the top of the embankment his company again had many casualties from enfilade machine gun fire. He continued to rally and cheer his men, and eventually the attack was beaten off with much loss to the enemy. Afterwards he reorganised the company and its disposition to meet the occasion. His fine showing of initiative and daring on this occasion was a great stimulus to all ranks.'

In May 1918 Byrne was evacuated to England suffering from trench fever. He returned to his unit in France at the end of July. Byrne was wounded in the head by machine gun fire on 18 September, while leading his platoon up the forward slope to the outpost system of the Hindenburg line at Bellenglise, near St Quentin. He was carried to the Regimental Aid Post but died there soon afterwards. He was initially buried at Hudson's Post but his body was exhumed after the war and is now buried in the Bellicourt British Cemetery.

This commemorative plaque was sent to his uncle, Mr G E Byrne, in December 1922. Leslie Byrne's only brother, Stanley, was also killed during the war, at Polygon Wood, Belgium on 28 September 1917 while serving in 29th Battalion.