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Lt. Walter Alfred Leland
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers
(d.4th Jun 1915)
The only known WW1 casualty on my family tree, Walter Leland was born on 3rd of March 1893 in Liverpool, the first child of Alfred and Eugenie (nee Gollin), and was registered as Walter Alfred Lazarus. He was educated at Charterhouse where he was a crack rifle shot, winning several medals for the rifle club. He moved to Sydney in 1912, to join the Australian firm of Gollin and Son for his planned career in 'commercial pursuits'. On the outbreak of war he immediately decided to return to England on the first outgoing steamer, the SS Demosthenes from Brisbane.
He was given a commission as Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in November, 1914, initially attached to the 10th Battalion Bedfordshires. For some months his regiment was stationed at Harwich, on the east coast. It was then sent to the White City, in London for further training. After a brilliant result of competitive examination in musketry, etc., he obtained his lieutenancy in April 1915.
He left for Gallipoli Peninsula in May, attached to the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Lieutenant Leland was at Gabà Tepè only four days. On 4th June, the day after his arrival he was ordered to advance up the Nullah at the head of his section. On turning a bend they cut through wire entanglements and came on hidden Turkish guns, the fire from which killed almost the entire section, Lieutenant Leland falling with the rest. Only a few survived the action, and the trench which they were seeking was not taken until three weeks afterwards. His body was recovered and buried at Gallipoli on 28th June. His name appears on the Helles memorial, and also on the family plaque at Golders Green crematorium.
Lieutenant Leland was very musical, and the writing of music and verse were his principal hobbies.
