FAMILY LIFE

Leslie James Hayes was born on 14th October 1890, in Robertson, New South Wales, son of John Levi Hayes & Sarah Ann (Whatman) Hayes. He was one of seven children. His parents had been living in the area since 1906 and his father is listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

ATTESTATION

He was single labourer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 18^th January 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Sarah Ann, of North Arm, Murwillumbah

His medical showed he was 25 years 3 months old, 5ft 6 ½ inches tall (1.69m), weighed 16 lbs (73kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & dark brown hair. His eyesight was good

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Leslie “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, James Leslie Hayes, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

He was Church of England and had a scar on his left leg & one on his right hip.  He was enlisted as a private into the 11^th Light Horse Regiment – 9^th Reinforcements with service No 1768

TRAINING AT FRASER’S HILL CAMP, ENOGGERA

When Leslie stepped forward and enlisted on 18 January 1916, he joined the ranks of many young Australian men who had answered the call for reinforcements to the mounted units serving in the Middle East. Leslie was posted to the 11th Reinforcements for the 11th Light Horse Regiment, a unit with strong Queensland roots, originally formed in 1914. His initial military training would have taken place over several months at Fraser's Hill Camp, Enoggera, in Brisbane,

Enoggera was one of the major training depots for Queensland-based Light Horsemen. There, Leslie would have been introduced to the rigours of military discipline, physical conditioning, and the handling of horses — an essential skill for a mounted soldier. The Light Horse were not cavalry in the traditional sense; they were mounted infantry, trained to ride to the battlefield and then dismount to fight. Leslie would have learned to care for his horse, mount, and dismount quickly under pressure, and maintain his gear and weaponry to the high standards expected of a Light Horse trooper.

The early months of 1916 were a period of intense transformation for new recruits like Leslie. Days began early with stable duties — feeding, watering, grooming, and exercising horses — followed by long hours of drill, musketry, bayonet practice, and field exercises. As the war shifted increasingly to the Middle Eastern theatre, the Light Horse units became more vital than ever, especially in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns. Instructors would have focused on preparing Leslie and his comrades for desert conditions — emphasising endurance, horsemanship, navigation, and fieldcraft.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

By the time May 1916 arrived, Leslie would have completed nearly four months of training. Fit, confident, and bonded with his fellow reinforcements and his mount, he was ready for the next stage. Embarking at Brisbane on HMAT A49 Seang Bee on 21 May 1916, Leslie left behind the paddocks of Enoggera and sailed toward the Suez Canal. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

TEL EL KEBIR- EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP JUNE 1916

Leslie disembarked in Egypt and was initially posted to the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment at Tel el Kebir, taken on strength there on 15 June 1916. Tel el Kebir was a sprawling training and transit camp, blisteringly hot by day and cold at night, surrounded by endless desert. Here, Leslie’s training intensified. He learned to operate in desert conditions — long route marches, night patrols, and live-fire exercises, all aimed at toughening the men for the campaigns in Sinai and Palestine. Camels and Bedouins were a novel sight, as were the pyramids glimpsed from passing trains, but there was little time for sightseeing. The camp was a hive of activity, with men constantly arriving, training, and moving on to the front.

MOASCAR  REGIMENTAL BASE AUGUST 1916

On 12 August, Leslie was transferred to the 11th Light Horse Regiment, the unit he had been destined for since enlistment. He reported to the regimental base at Moascar, near Ismailia on the Suez Canal. Moascar served as a key military base and convalescent camp, and it is likely Leslie spent his time there being integrated into his new regiment — learning their routines, undergoing kit inspections, and building camaraderie with the troopers he would serve beside in battle.

SERAPEUM SEPTEMBER 1916

A month later, on 12 September, Leslie was officially taken on strength with the 11th Light Horse at Serapeum, just south of Moascar. From here, the regiment was conducting operations in the Sinai, pushing further east as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force’s campaign to drive the Ottoman Turks out of the Sinai Peninsula and protect the Suez Canal. Leslie’s time of preparation was over — he was now a fully-fledged Light Horseman, ready to ride and fight with his regiment across the desert sands.

INTO THE DESERT - SERAPEUM, SEPTEMBER 1916 

By September 1916, Leslie James Hayes had settled into life with the 11th Light Horse Regiment, then based at Serapeum. As part of the Australian Mounted Division, the regiment was playing an important role in the British campaign to secure the Suez Canal and push the Ottoman Turks out of the Sinai Peninsula. With the long, brutal Gallipoli campaign behind them, the Light Horse were now becoming desert warriors — mobile, resilient, and crucial to the war effort in the Middle East.

Throughout late 1916, Leslie and his regiment were engaged in long desert patrols and outpost duties. These were not glamorous days — they involved blistering heat, sand in every crevice, long hours in the saddle, and often very little contact with the enemy. But the work was vital. The Ottoman Army was still active in the Sinai, and raids were common. The 11th patrolled from Romani to El Arish, working to secure the region and protect the canal zone from infiltration. They endured harsh conditions, relying on water convoys, limited rations, and sheer determination

DECEMBER 1916 PALESTINE

In December 1916, the regiment crossed into Palestine as part of the British push east. Leslie would have crossed the desert frontier, riding through landscapes dotted with ancient ruins, palm groves, and Bedouin encampments. The campaign moved towards the town of Magdhaba, which fell to British and ANZAC mounted troops on 23 December. While the 11th Light Horse did not play a central combat role in that battle, they were part of the wider movement supporting the advance

JANUARY 1917 – RAFA

The next key battle came on 9 January 1917, at Rafa, near the border with Palestine. The terrain was unforgiving, and the Turks were well dug in. The fighting was fierce, and though again the 11th was in reserve, they were ready to be thrown into the fray if needed. These early 1917 months were marked by fast-moving patrols, reconnaissance missions, and preparation for the major battles ahead.

MARCH AND APRIL 1917 THE FIRST  & SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA

By March and April 1917, Leslie was part of the advancing force now focused on Gaza. The First Battle of Gaza (26–27 March) and the Second Battle (17–19 April) were both costly and unsuccessful attempts to break the Turkish lines. Although the 11th Light Horse was held mostly in reserve during the first assault, they were more heavily engaged in the second, operating in support and sometimes under fire from Turkish artillery. Leslie would have experienced the chaos of battlefield movement, the pressure of waiting under orders, and the sorrow of seeing casualties from both battle and the heat.

APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 1917

After the failed Gaza attacks, the regiment spent time refitting and patrolling. The heat of the desert was unrelenting by mid-year, and disease became an ever-present threat. Flies were everywhere, and water was often scarce or contaminated.

HOSPITALISED MALARIA SEPTEMBER 1917

By September 1917, after twelve months of intense desert service, Leslie’s luck with health gave out. On 12 September, he was admitted to hospital with malaria, a disease common among troops operating in the low-lying, mosquito-infested regions of southern Palestine. Malaria could hit hard — fever, chills, weakness — and the treatment was basic at best. Leslie would have been evacuated from the field to a medical station, then likely moved to a hospital further back from the front. It was a forced rest from the saddle, and a sign of just how physically demanding his first year of active service had been.

MALARIA AND RECOVERY – LONG ROAD BACK, 1917–1918

After more than a year of relentless campaigning through desert and dust, Leslie’s service was interrupted by illness. On 12 September 1917, while the 11th Light Horse was operating in the area around Fukhari, near Gaza, Leslie was struck down with malaria. The debilitating effects of the disease took hold quickly — fever, chills, intense weakness — and he was admitted to hospital the same day. From there, he was transferred to a convalescent unit and temporarily detached from his regiment.

By 21 September, Leslie had recovered enough to return to duty, rejoining the 11th Light Horse Regiment at El Fara. While he was back in uniform, the effects of malaria lingered in many men for months — sometimes years. It is likely that Leslie had bouts of fatigue, and perhaps recurring symptoms as he adjusted back into active service.

JANUARY 1918 REST CAMP

The turn of the new year brought a welcome change of pace. On 26 January 1918, Leslie was sent to Port Said Rest Camp, part of a system established by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) to provide physical and mental respite for frontline troops. Rest camps offered fresh food, sea bathing, relative comfort, and a brief chance to relax. He remained there for a week, returning to his regiment on 2 February 1918, refreshed and ready to resume duties.

MAY 1918 LEAVE IN ENGLAND

Then in May 1918, Leslie was given an honour many soldiers never received — he was granted leave in the United Kingdom, embarking on 9 May 1918. This meant time away from the harsh conditions of Palestine, and a chance to experience the more familiar comforts of Britain — clean air, solid food, and perhaps even a glimpse of London’s sights. The notation “To be S/Strength AIF HQ” confirms he was officially attached to AIF Headquarters in London during this period, possibly for administration, leave arrangements, or recuperation.

JULY 1918 RETURN TO REGIMENT

He returned to the Middle East in time for Jerusalem Rest Camp in July 1918 — noted on 13 July. This was another brief reprieve before returning to his regiment on 28 July.

FINAL CAMPAIGNS –ADVANCE INTO PALESTINE, JULY 1918 TO JANUARY 1919

By the time Leslie returned from rest camp to rejoin the 11th Light Horse Regiment on 28 July 1918, the regiment was preparing for one of its most decisive campaigns. The tide had turned in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The Ottoman forces were weakening, and General Allenby’s plan for a final assault was in motion.

In August and September, Leslie and his regiment were stationed near Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, enduring the intense heat, flies, and disease of that harsh terrain. While they conducted reconnaissance patrols and skirmishes, this phase was largely about preparing for the main offensive — what would become the Battle of Megiddo in September 1918.

BATTLE OF MEGIDDO SEPTEMBER 1918

On 19 September 1918, the Allied forces launched a major offensive along the Mediterranean coast. While British infantry attacked through the coastal plain, the mounted troops, including Leslie's 11th Light Horse Regiment, were ordered to sweep northward in a grand cavalry manoeuvre designed to encircle and cut off the Ottoman retreat.

Leslie rode north through the Valley of Jezreel, crossing difficult country at speed. The 11th took part in the dramatic advance through Musmus Pass, then pressed on to take Zer’in (Jenin) and beyond. Within days, the Ottoman forces were collapsing in retreat. The mobility and discipline of the Light Horse played a major role in this breakthrough. It was the kind of campaign Leslie had trained for back in Enoggera: fast, bold, and decisive.

CAPTURE OF DAMASCUS OCTOBER 1918

The final major action for the 11th Light Horse was the capture of Damascus on 1 October 1918. The city, long under Ottoman rule, fell with little resistance, and Leslie may well have ridden through its ancient streets with his regiment in those first heady days of liberation.

After the Armistice of Mudros was signed on 30 October 1918, the war in the Middle East officially ended. But Leslie's work was not yet over. The 11th Light Horse became part of the occupation forces, moving into northern Syria and Lebanon, restoring order, guarding supply lines, and overseeing the surrender and disarmament of Turkish units

JANUARY 1919

By late 1918 and early 1919, the regiment began its slow return southward toward Egypt. On 24 January 1919, Leslie was admitted to hospital in Helouan, just south of Cairo. The record notes he was “sick,” likely a final reminder of the toll that desert service, disease, and fatigue had taken. He rejoined duty on 2 February, and shortly afterward, was transferred to the 4th Light Horse Brigade Train, now part of the machinery of winding down the AIF in the Middle East. Leslie’s war was winding down, but his service continued, now in a vital supporting role that helped keep his comrades equipped and supplied

WINDING DOWN – FINAL MONTHS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, FEBRUARY TO JULY 1919

The war may have officially ended in October 1918, but for men like Leslie Hayes, the journey home was still months away. With Australia’s forces spread across the Middle East, transport scarce, and demobilisation slow, many soldiers were kept on strength for months after the armistice — some for duties, others simply waiting their turn.

HOSPITALISED JANUARY 1919

Leslie’s service record shows that he again fell ill in late January 1919, and on 31 January, he was sent to hospital from the 11th Light Horse Regiment, this time while serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF). A few days later, on 5 February, he was transferred to another hospital at Moascar, still unwell but under care. These recurring bouts of illness — likely the result of persistent malaria or post-campaign exhaustion — were common among veterans who had served continuously in desert climates.

MARCH 1919 DETAILS UNIT

By early March, Leslie had recovered enough to be moved to the 11th Light Horse Details unit — essentially an administrative holding unit at Moascar, for men awaiting further orders. On 7 March 1919, he officially rejoined the 11th Light Horse Regiment, though by this stage, the unit was not in the field but stationed in Egypt, awaiting transport instructions and performing minor duties.

HOSPITALISED MARCH 1919

Then on 17 March 1919, Leslie was again marked as sick and transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital (2 AGH). This hospital was located at Ghezireh, in Cairo, and treated a range of illnesses among Australian soldiers during the post-war period. It’s possible Leslie was being treated for lingering effects of malaria or simply weakened by years of desert campaigning.

WAITING TO GO HOME MARCH TO JULY

From March until July, Leslie remained in Egypt — recovering, waiting, and finally preparing to go home. The wait must have felt long. Though the guns had fallen silent months earlier, many Light Horsemen were kept on extended service due to the slow turnaround of shipping and the complexity of repatriating the AIF.

GOING HOME

At last, orders came. On 20 July 1919, Leslie boarded the HT Morvada at Kantara, bound for Australia. As he stepped onto the transport ship, his years of service — from Enoggera to Gaza, from Tel el Kebir to Damascus — were finally drawing to a close. The Morvada would carry him home across the seas he had crossed more than three years earlier, this time not as a young recruit, but as a seasoned and battle-hardened trooper of the 11th Light Horse Regiment

COMING HOME – RETURN TO AUSTRALIA AND DISCHARGE

After more than three years of active service across the deserts of Egypt, Sinai, and Palestine, Leslie finally began his journey home. On 20 July 1919, he boarded HT Morvada at Kantara, a major embarkation point near the Suez Canal. The ship was one of many troop transports repatriating Australian soldiers as the massive task of demobilisation unfolded.

The Morvada would have been crowded with returning servicemen — Light Horsemen, infantry, engineers — all weary from war but eager to see Australian shores again. The mood aboard ship was likely one of reflection and relief. For many, like Leslie, the return journey was not just a physical crossing but a time to come to terms with the experiences of the last few years: battles fought, mates lost, the harshness of the desert, and the quiet moments of camaraderie.

After several weeks at sea, the Morvada docked in Australia and Leslie would have travelled home by train to Murwillumbah

FOR HIS SERVICE

He was officially discharged from the AIF on 21 September 1919, his war finally over. Having enlisted as a young man of 24, Leslie returned a seasoned trooper. He had faced disease, long desert marches, and the uncertainty of war, but had come through it all. He had served in one of the most iconic of Australian units — the 11th Light Horse Regiment — and took part in the final liberation of the Middle East from Ottoman control.

The paperwork was complete, the uniform stored away, but Leslie's experience as a Light Horseman would have remained with him for life — not just in memory, but in the resilience, discipline, and mateship he carried into civilian life.

For his service Leslie was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the
Lismore Corndale Loyal Empire Lodge No 226 M.U.I.O.O.F. Great War Roll of Honor & Robertson Honour Roll

LIFE AT HOME

Leslie married Ethel Blanche Ellis on 14^th December 1919 in Murwillumbah and they had a son Vincent in 1922. Leslie died in Pomona, Queensland, 2 January 1958, aged 67 years, and is buried in Pomona Cemetery, Qld Monumental, Row C, #250

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.