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Private Leslie Crossen
Description
TitlePrivate Leslie CrossenAlternative NameHenry Leon LeslieSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionHenry Leslie, known as Leslie, was born at Brookside 6 April 1894, to William and Mary Ann Crossen. He was educated at the Brookside School, but after leaving school he lived and worked at Dunsandel. It was from Dunsandel he received a hearty send off when he left to join the reinforcements. He was 5ft 8½in with a fair complexion, grey blue eyes and light brown hair. Before enlisting he was working as a labourer for H. P. Hogg at Opitiki, near Gisborne.
Leslie enlisted on 17 October 1915 and was assigned to the Reserve Battalion. He embarked on 8 January 1916 from Wellington. He disembarked at Suez on 9th February but on the same day was admitted to hospital at Abbasia, north of Cairo, with measles. After almost a month he was released and was sent to training camp at Zeitoun on 1st March where he was attached to the training Battalion. At the completion of training he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry and embarked for France with them on 7th April 1916. He was wounded on 18 September 1916 during the fighting for Flers, one of the Somme battles, but recovered. Sadly, he was killed in action on 13 June 1917, aged 22, during the last days of the battle for Messines. The 2nd Canterbury Battalion had left Crucifix Camp at 7 p.m. and relieved the 35th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, the relief being completed by 1.40 a.m. on the 13th. Unfortunately they later came under a barrage of heavy gunfire and suffered severe casualties. His body was not found or identified and his name is inscribed on the Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial and the Dunsandel War Memorial.
First NameLeslieLast NameCrossenFamilySingleWilliam and Mary Ann CrossenDate of Birth6 April 1894Place of BirthBrooksideDate of Death13 June 1917Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death22
Leslie enlisted on 17 October 1915 and was assigned to the Reserve Battalion. He embarked on 8 January 1916 from Wellington. He disembarked at Suez on 9th February but on the same day was admitted to hospital at Abbasia, north of Cairo, with measles. After almost a month he was released and was sent to training camp at Zeitoun on 1st March where he was attached to the training Battalion. At the completion of training he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry and embarked for France with them on 7th April 1916. He was wounded on 18 September 1916 during the fighting for Flers, one of the Somme battles, but recovered. Sadly, he was killed in action on 13 June 1917, aged 22, during the last days of the battle for Messines. The 2nd Canterbury Battalion had left Crucifix Camp at 7 p.m. and relieved the 35th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, the relief being completed by 1.40 a.m. on the 13th. Unfortunately they later came under a barrage of heavy gunfire and suffered severe casualties. His body was not found or identified and his name is inscribed on the Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial and the Dunsandel War Memorial.
First NameLeslieLast NameCrossenFamilySingleWilliam and Mary Ann CrossenDate of Birth6 April 1894Place of BirthBrooksideDate of Death13 June 1917Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death22
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDunsandel War MemorialLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryMessines Memorial to the MissingDunsandel War MemorialEllesmere County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingLabourerRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Battalion, 2nd Battalion Enlistment Details17th October 1915Service Number24/1630Embarkation8th January 1916Place of EmbarkationWellington TransportTahitiWarrimooCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private Leslie Crossen. Selwyn Stories, accessed 27/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/238