The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1603) Sergeant Leslie Harry Geeves, 12th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (1603) Sergeant Leslie Harry Geeves, 12th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1603 Sergeant Leslie Harry Geeves, 12th Battalion, AIF
Died of Disease 4 April 1916

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Leslie Harry Geeves.

Leslie Geeves was born on 5 December 1881, one of nine children born to James and Lily Geeves of Geeveston, Tasmania. His father worked as the mail contractor between Geeveston and Huonville for many years. His mother was described as being “of an extremely kind disposition, and a friend to all who were in need of sympathy and help.” Leslie was educated at the local state school and went on to work as a storekeeper.

In 1900 Leslie Geeves enlisted in the 1st Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen contingent for service in the Boer War. He was on his way to the front when Geeveston held a celebration for the Relief of Mafeking. During the celebration it was remembered that “one from among us is now en route for the front in South Africa, [namely] Mr Leslie Geeves, to do service for Queen and country [and] three cheers were accorded to him.”

Trooper Geeves later wrote that when he first arrived in South Africa he and his mates in the Tasmanian Contingent were convinced the war was nearly over and were “all very anxious to have a shot”. Two days after arriving in Durban they were sent on to Port Elizabeth, given a Lee-Enfield rifle and sent to market to buy essentials like soap and matches. Not long afterwards they were sent to Pretoria by train. Geeves wrote, “We passed all the places where the battles have been fought; we could see horses all over the place; and there were plenty of graves, all covered with stones.”

In late November, Geeves’s contingent advanced towards Rhenoster Kop, camping within a few miles of it on the 28th. The following day the men advanced on the heights, dismounting when they came under enemy fire. With no cover at all, the men could only lie down and hope the Boer bullets missed them.

Geeves wrote, “every time a man showed himself he would see the bullets chip the dirt round about him. At 6 o’clock there were four hospital tents full. We were there for 14 hours in the boiling sun, with neither biscuits nor water. At 10 o’clock at night we started digging trenches. We had to be pretty careful then, as they were sniping at us all the time.”

After completing their trench, the Australians collapsed in the bottom until the early hours of the morning. Finding the Boers had withdrawn, the men were finally able to raise their heads above the parapet. Geeves wrote, “We looked round, and found seven dead bodies within a hundred yards of where we slept. It was a terrible sight.”

Leslie Geeves wrote home about many more engagements with the enemy, coming under shell-fire, chasing rumours of Boer units across the veld, and lying in wait to capture the enemy. He also took part in some of the more questionable actions of the war, writing home about ransacking farms belonging to supposed Boer sympathisers. Later in 1901 they were at a farm at Zeerust when they noticed a new grave in the garden. The farmer’s wife said it was the grave of her grandmother, but the men dug it up anyway to find her clothes and crockery in the coffin. They destroyed it all, and took some of her farm animals for their dinner. Geeves wrote, “I do not know where all the women and children go to when their homes are destroyed; they are just told to get what they want [and get out] … It seems a shame to destroy their homes like this; but it is the only means of bringing the Boers to reason.”

Trooper Leslie Geeves returned from the war in 1902, and went back to being a storekeeper and draper. In 1905 he married Mildred O’Brien. The couple had two sons, Baden – born in 1906 – and Eric, who was born in 1909 but died in infancy. Leslie Geeves was 33 years old when war broke out in 1914.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in January 1915 and underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving for active service overseas with reinforcements to the 12th Battalion. He was first sent to Egypt, and from there to Gallipoli. He was proving an able soldier, as his previous war experience would suggest, and by August 1915 had been promoted to sergeant.

In early August, companies of the 12th Battalion took part in the attack on Lone Pine. Geeves wrote, “It is impossible to describe the sights – dead and dying lying everywhere. The stretcher-bearers could not get the wounded away. In one trench where I was, it was half full of the enemy’s dead, and we could not get rid of them to bury them … We were relieved in the morning and I only took back 18 men with me, all the others were killed or wounded. I never saw such a sight in my life and hope I never shall again.”

The experience had a profound impact on Geeves. He wrote to his mother, “It upset my nerves and I had to see a doctor next morning. I was sent to Lemnos first and then on to England.” While he wrote of being delighted to see England, he ended the letter by writing again, “the last few days at the Dardanelles upset my nerves. One shell burst and capsized a couple of us and covered us with dirt. I … thought I was dead.”

Sergeant Geeves was treated for chonic dysentery in England, but in the new year his condition worsened. He developed an abscess near his kidney and bronchopneumonia. He died in hospital in Woolwich, London, on 4 April 1916. He was 35 years old.

Today, his remains lie buried in Greenwich Cemetery underneath the epitaph, “At rest.”
Leslie Geeves is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant Leslie Harry Geeves, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section