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Rifleman Leonard William Tobeck
Description
TitleRifleman Leonard William TobeckSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionLeonard was born at Tai Tapu on 4 January 1897, eldest son of John Henry and Alice. He was educated at the local school. Before enlisting he was working as a farm hand for his father. He had previous military experience as he was serving with K Company, the Coastal Defence force. He was described as being of an exceedingly kind and industrious disposition. He was 5ft 6in tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He also had a birth mark on his left shoulder blade and two small scars on his left hand.
He enlisted at Christchurch on 6 January 1917 and volunteered for the 27th Reinforcements but was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 25th Reinforcements, G Company. He embarked with then on board the SS Turakina from Wellington on 26 April 1917 and arrived in Devonport on 20 July. Whilst at sea he was admitted to ship’s hospital at sea for almost a month from 17 May until 16 June suffering from bad dysentery and diarrhoea. He marched into Sling 20 July and then left for France from Tidworth where the reserve group were stationed. Once again he was hospitalised, this time for measles in the 14th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne on 8 September and then the No.1 Convalescent Hospital at Boulogne. He returned to Base Depot at Etaples on 21 September and marched out to Division on 3rd October. There he was attached to ANZAC Reinforcements camp and marched out to his unit on 7 October. He was posted to A Company 3rd Battalion , 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade in the field on 9 October. He was one of the many who went missing during the disastrous Passchendaele attack on 12 October but finally reported in. He had survived that bloodbath only to be killed in action on 27 March 1918. The New Zealand Division was tasked that day with holding up the advance of the German troops towards Amiens, along the Ancre Valley. The New Zealand troops faced four counter attacks that day. He was buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, III. N. 5. In New Zealand Leonard is remembered on the Tai Tapu War Memorial and the Tai Tapu Methodist Roll of Honour.
Colincamps and "Euston", a road junction a little east of the village, were within the Allied lines before the Somme offensive of July 1916. The cemetery was started as a front line burial ground during and after the unsuccessful attack on Serre on 1 July, but after the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917 it was scarcely used. It was briefly in German hands towards the end of March 1918, when it marked the limit of the German advance, but the line was held and pushed forward by the New Zealand Division allowing the cemetery to be used again for burials in April and May 1918. The cemetery is particularly associated with three dates and engagements; the attack on Serre on 1 July 1916; the capture of Beaumont-Hamel on 13 November 1916; and the German attack on the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade trenches before Colincamps on 5 April 1918. The whole of Plot I, except five graves in the last row, represents the original cemetery of 501 graves. After the Armistice, more than 750 graves were brought in from small cemeteries in the neighbouring communes and the battlefields.First NameLeonard WilliamLast NameTobeckFamilySingleEldest son of John Henry and AliceDate of Birth4 January 1897Place of BirthTai TapuDate of Death2 March 1918Place of DeathSomme, FranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21
He enlisted at Christchurch on 6 January 1917 and volunteered for the 27th Reinforcements but was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 25th Reinforcements, G Company. He embarked with then on board the SS Turakina from Wellington on 26 April 1917 and arrived in Devonport on 20 July. Whilst at sea he was admitted to ship’s hospital at sea for almost a month from 17 May until 16 June suffering from bad dysentery and diarrhoea. He marched into Sling 20 July and then left for France from Tidworth where the reserve group were stationed. Once again he was hospitalised, this time for measles in the 14th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne on 8 September and then the No.1 Convalescent Hospital at Boulogne. He returned to Base Depot at Etaples on 21 September and marched out to Division on 3rd October. There he was attached to ANZAC Reinforcements camp and marched out to his unit on 7 October. He was posted to A Company 3rd Battalion , 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade in the field on 9 October. He was one of the many who went missing during the disastrous Passchendaele attack on 12 October but finally reported in. He had survived that bloodbath only to be killed in action on 27 March 1918. The New Zealand Division was tasked that day with holding up the advance of the German troops towards Amiens, along the Ancre Valley. The New Zealand troops faced four counter attacks that day. He was buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, III. N. 5. In New Zealand Leonard is remembered on the Tai Tapu War Memorial and the Tai Tapu Methodist Roll of Honour.
Colincamps and "Euston", a road junction a little east of the village, were within the Allied lines before the Somme offensive of July 1916. The cemetery was started as a front line burial ground during and after the unsuccessful attack on Serre on 1 July, but after the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917 it was scarcely used. It was briefly in German hands towards the end of March 1918, when it marked the limit of the German advance, but the line was held and pushed forward by the New Zealand Division allowing the cemetery to be used again for burials in April and May 1918. The cemetery is particularly associated with three dates and engagements; the attack on Serre on 1 July 1916; the capture of Beaumont-Hamel on 13 November 1916; and the German attack on the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade trenches before Colincamps on 5 April 1918. The whole of Plot I, except five graves in the last row, represents the original cemetery of 501 graves. After the Armistice, more than 750 graves were brought in from small cemeteries in the neighbouring communes and the battlefields.First NameLeonard WilliamLast NameTobeckFamilySingleEldest son of John Henry and AliceDate of Birth4 January 1897Place of BirthTai TapuDate of Death2 March 1918Place of DeathSomme, FranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageTai Tapu War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or Cemetery Euston Road CemeteryTai Tapu War Memorial Occupation before EnlistingFarm Hand Regiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details6th January 1917 at ChristchrurchService Number49030Rank Last HeldRiflemanEmbarkation26th April 1917Place of EmbarkationWellington TransportTurakina Reinforcement25th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Rifleman Leonard William Tobeck. Selwyn Stories, accessed 10/11/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/406
