Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt

Historical Information (Source: CWGC)

At the end of March, the 3rd, 29th and 56th Casualty Clearing Stations moved to Gezaincourt, where they were joined for a short time in April by the 45th. They remained until September. The cemetery was begun in April 1918, after the close of the German offensive in Picardy. The 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, in the citadel at Doullens, also buried in this cemetery in May and June 1918, and the 2nd Canadian Division in April and May. The graves in Plot III, Row A relate to a bombing raid over Doullens on 30 May 1918.

 

There are 1,374 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

 

Served with

  • United Kingdom (1143)
  • New Zealand (181)
  • Canadian (46)
  • Australian (1)
  • Indian (1)

Served in

  • Army (1318)
  • Navy (41)
  • Air Force (13)
Bagneux BC Gezaincourt
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Sergeant PATERNOSTER, LESLIE MELVILLE

Service Number 3427A

Died 26/04/1918

11th Bde. Australian Field Artillery

Son of Henry George and Mary Harrison Paternoster, of Salisbury, South Australia.

Grave reference: I. D. 14.

NAA Item Number 8010129 Paternoster
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“Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Paternoster, of Salisbury, have received information that their eldest son, Sgt. Leslie Melville Paternoster, has died from the effects of wounds received in France on April 26. The deceased soldier, who was 23 years of age, was a native of Salisbury, where he was exceedingly popular. He received his primary education at the local school, which was followed by a three-years’ business course at Muirden College. On completion of this course he received the award of the Old Scholars’ Association for the most popular boy in the school.

 

On leaving college he obtained a position in the firm of Messrs. Elder, Smith, & Co.in Adelaide, and a year later received a promotion to the firm’s branch at Kapunda. In August, 1913, the firm transferred him to a more responsible position at Strathalbyn. He enlisted from Strathalbyn in August, 1915, and two months later, left with the 11th Reinforcement to the 10th Battalion. He was afterwards transferred to the Field Artillery Brigade for service in France, where he quickly received promotion as a reward for gallantry.”

The Register, 11th May 1918

 

He was enlisted into the 11th Reinforcements for the 10th Battalion and embarked with his draft of reinforcements on HMAT Benalla on 27 October 1915. 

 

He arrived in the Middle East too late for Gallipoli and in the 'Doubling of the AIF' that took place in early 1916 after the withdrawal from ANZAC, Leslie was transferred to to the 50th Battalion, the 'pup' Battalion of the 10th.  In due course he was then transferred to the 11th Field Artillery Brigade.  He eventually attained the rank of Sergeant.

 

On 24 April 1917 he was wounded in action for the second time and, on the following day he succumbed to these wounds, aged 23, and was buried in the Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, France.