Can You Help Us Identify Arthur?

Arthur Donald Leigh was born in 1893 in Landsborough, Queensland, the first son of Henry Thomas Leigh, 1871-1939 and Elizabeth White McNeill, 1871-1936. He was part of a large family of twelve children, including eldest half-sister Violet:

Arthur’s early childhood was spent in regional Queensland, but the family eventually settled in North Ipswich, where his father worked with the Queensland Government Railways. Their home on Musgrave Street in the Workshops Estate was located within the tightly woven community of railway families who lived near the locomotive yards.

Arthur’s siblings formed a strong and close-knit household. His eldest sisters, Violet and Helen, helped care for the younger children. His sisters Hilda, Leah, and Edna also remained in the Ipswich area into adulthood. A younger brother, Frederick Leigh, would follow in Arthur’s footsteps in both trade and service — working as a fitter and later enlisting in the Railway Unit in 1917. Another brother, Henry, worked locally and served the community in civilian life. All the Leigh children were raised with a strong work ethic and ties to the local Anglican church, St Thomas’s, where Arthur would remain involved until his departure for war.

Arthur began work at just 15 years old, entering the Queensland Government Railways as a "Learner" in the Locomotive Branch, Southern Division. Over time, he trained and qualified as a fitter, a respected mechanical trade requiring skill, responsibility, and precision. He remained employed in the Ipswich workshops until 1915. Outside of work, Arthur was a keen sportsman. He played football with both the Starlights and Tivoli teams and was known to enjoy swimming. His conduct was described as temperate and respectful, and he was well regarded throughout the North Ipswich community for his character and discipline.

When war was declared, Arthur was 21 years old. None of his brothers were old enough to enlist until Fred did in 1917.

Arthur enlisted in Brisbane on 21 July 1915, one of many young tradesmen from Ipswich answering the call to serve. At the time of enlistment, he was 22 years old and working as a qualified fitter in the Queensland Government Railways. He was posted to A Company of the newly formed 31st Battalion, a unit composed of men from Queensland and Victoria. Arthur embarked from Melbourne on 5 November 1915 aboard HMAT A41 Bakara , while other companies of the 31st Battalion sailed a few days later aboard the Wandilla.

After a month-long voyage, Arthur disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 7 December 1915, where he joined the rest of the battalion at Serapeum for further training and defence duties along the Suez Canal.

During his time in Egypt, Arthur had a minor disciplinary incident — losing his hat — for which he received 24 hours of Field Punishment No. 2 on 3 June 1916. It was a minor blemish on an otherwise steady record and suggests that the hat was likely lost rather than deliberately discarded. On 16 June 1916, Arthur left Alexandria with his unit, bound for France and the Western Front. He disembarked at Marseilles on 23 June 1916.

Only weeks after arriving in France, Arthur and the men of the 31st Battalion were rushed into their first major engagement — the Battle of Fromelles, on 19–20 July 1916. It was intended as a feint to divert German attention from the Somme, but it became one of the most catastrophic battles in Australian military history.

After spending several months training in Egypt, the 31st Battalion landed in France in June 1916 and was soon moved into the front lines near the village of Fleurbaix, opposite the strongly fortified German position at Fromelles. The 31st Battalion was part of the 8th Brigade of the newly arrived 5th Australian Division, which was assigned to launch a feint attack to draw German reserves away from the main Somme offensive further south. The original plan was for an attack on 17 July, but bad weather caused it to be postponed. By 4.00 PM on the 19th the men were back in position for the assault.

The attack began at 5.58 PM, with the 31st Battalion advancing in four waves: A and C Companies led in the first two waves, followed by B and D Companies in the third and fourth. The pre-battle bombardment had done significant damage to the German front line, and the 31st made rapid progress, reaching the second line — which in many places was little more than water-filled ditches. Despite the gains, they came under intense and sustained shellfire, not only from the Germans but also from misdirected Allied artillery. By 8.30 PM, the left flank was heavily bombarded with high explosives and shrapnel. Orders came through that:

As darkness fell, the situation became increasingly chaotic. German counterattacks intensified, communications broke down, and the Australians were left isolated and running low on ammunition and grenades. Fighting continued through the night. The Australians made another push toward the main German line beyond Trench B, but were running low on grenades. They came under machine gun fire from behind, including from the German strongpoint at Delangre Farm, and were so far advanced they were now being shelled by both sides.

At 4.00 AM, the Germans launched a major counterattack on the Australian left flank, bombing their way into Trench A. Earlier gains had left some Australian support trenches — like Trench E — nearly unoccupied, making it easier for the Germans to surround the isolated forward troops. By 5.30 AM, German bombing parties were attacking from both flanks. With few grenades remaining, the Australians could only resist with rifles.

`“The enemy swarmed in and the retirement across No Mans’ Land resembled a shambles, the enemy artillery and machine guns doing deadly damage.”`

Source: AWM4 23/48/12, 31st Battalion War Diaries, July 1916, page 29

By dawn on 20 July, the 31st Battalion was ordered to withdraw. Those who attempted to retreat back across No-Man’s-Land were again cut down by German fire.

Arthur was initially reported missing after the battle. The Red Cross Wounded and Missing file for Arthur Donald Leigh contains two significant witness statements.

Private P.H. Martin (253), 31st Battalion, stated:

Private E.B. Gebbett (1568), 31st Battalion, stated:

A Court of Enquiry held in the field on 1 August 1917 concluded that Arthur had been killed in action on 20 July 1916. A handwritten note on his casualty form states:

However, no grave was ever located or formally identified. The Red Cross later confirmed that there was “No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10.10.1919.” — meaning his name did not appear on any German death lists, and no information had been recovered from enemy sources.

In the days following the Battle of Fromelles, Arthur Donald Leigh was listed as “missing in action.” Like hundreds of others, his fate was unclear — lost in the confusion of night fighting, artillery fire, and unrelenting machine guns. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth Leigh, were officially notified in mid-August 1916 by the Mayor of Ipswich, Alderman T. J. Smith, who delivered the message in person:

Arthur’s family endured more than a year of uncertainty. His father wrote regularly to the army passing on any information that may have come to the family.

It was not until August 1917 that the military officially confirmed his death:

A more detailed tribute followed in the local newspaper:

The final news of his death was broken to his parents by Mr. P. Read, catechist of St Thomas’s Anglican Church, where the Leigh family worshipped.

Despite the anguish of his loss, the Leigh family continued to serve. Arthur’s younger brother, 1410 Frederick Robert Leigh, enlisted in 1917 and joined the 4th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, returning safely in 1919. Arthur’s father Henry was employed by the Commonwealth Government for the British Government for the production of munitions for the War Effort. His uncle, 4164 Arthur Gerard Leigh, also served with the 25th Battalion and was wounded in France.

Arthur’s name is commemorated at:

In 1918, the family published this simple tribute:

Arthur Donald Leigh was 22 years old.

Arthur Donald Leigh was killed at Fromelles and has no known grave. Family members have already come forward to support the identification process. DNA testing may help confirm whether Arthur is among the unidentified soldiers reinterred at the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery.
If you are a relative and wish to assist, please contact the Fromelles Association of Australia.