First World War
The Story of the Medical Student
Leslie Averill was a medical student in Auckland when he joined the 29th Reinforcement as an NCO in February 1917. He was promoted to 2nd lieutenant and in August was posted to the 34th Reinforcement,
Leslie Averill was a medical student in Auckland when he joined the 29th Reinforcement as an NCO in February 1917. He was promoted to 2nd lieutenant and in August was posted to the 34th Reinforcement, training at Featherston and arriving in Britain in February 1918. It was May before he was in France, first in an entrenching battalion and later to 4th Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade. He was slightly wounded in August but remained on duty.
He was awarded a Military Cross in September 1918 but is best remembered as the first NZ soldier over the walls of Le Quesnoy on 4 November 1918. After the war he remained in the United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand.
As a doctor he was in the NZ Medical Corps reserve until retiring in 1950. He died in Christchurch in 1981.