World War I Commemorative Website

War Memorial Hall  c1929

Memorial Hall circa 1929
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Leonard Arthur HORSFALL

HORSFALL

Leonard Horsfall was born on 20 July 1874 in Fitzroy, Victoria. His parents were Jonas and Emily (née Nicholls) Horsfall. He attended Scotch from 1888 to 1889.

Leonard was a magistrate in South Africa when he enlisted in 1916 in South Africa. He served in the South African Heavy Artillery with the rank of Gunner. His Regimental Number was 1057 (South African Army).

Leonard died on 23 July 1917 at Croisilles, France. He was 43 years of age.

Service record

Leonard’s father had been Headmaster of Cambridge Street School, Collingwood. After completing law degrees at Melbourne University and Cape University in South Africa, Leonard went to South Africa during the Boer War and became Crown Prosecutor, and ultimately a Resident Magistrate on the Rand. In 1916 he joined the 71st Siege Battery South African Heavy Artillery with the rank of Gunner (equivalent to Private). He was promoted Corporal and reached France on 1 January 1917.

He was evacuated to hospital on 14 June but rejoined his battery on 9 July 1917. On 23 July 1917, at Croisilles, near Bullecourt, while he was serving ammunition at the gun, he was killed instantly by a splinter from a shell that burst a few yards away.

Leonard Horsfall is buried in the Croisilles British Cemetery, France.

Photographs and Documents:

Sources:

  1. Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  2. Mishura Scotch Database
  3. Scotch Collegian 1917 and 1919
  4. University of Melbourne Law School - http://www.law.unimelb.edu.au/index.cfm?objectid=6AC6C9D0-5555-11E2-BC960050568D0140

Page last updated: 11 November 2015