Victorian soldier to be honoured as first Australian to fall in WWI
A soldier serving with the British Army may soon be officially recognised as the first Australian killed in World War I.
Lieutenant Leslie Richmond, from Armadale in Victoria, was killed before even the first bullet was fired at Gallipolli.
Only last year, the Australian War Memorial officially recognised Lieutenant Malcolm Chrishom as the first Australian born casualty.
But it is now believed 26-year-old Richmond died four days earlier at the Battle of Mons on August 23, 1914.
His family have travelled to Gallipoli to mark the Anzac Centenary on Saturday.
"He was a trained soldier and he died so early, it's just such a great waste,” family descendant Alex Ramsey told 7News.
Lieutenant Richmond was among more than a thousand Australian men who rushed to join the British on the front lines.
They took pride in fighting for the mother country even though they were Australian born or raised.
Other Australian soldiers are laid to rest near Lieutenant Richmond.
Lieutenants Burgess and Barrington were killed and coincidentally laid to rest side by side.
Their names will soon be listed on the Roll of Commemoration, along with Lieutenant Richmond.
For his family it will be a very important moment.
“His wife was pregnant with their only child when he was killed,” Alex said.
His son would later fight in World War II and die not far from the father he never knew.
News break – April 20
