The team at Snowy Valleys Heroes Inc (Our Indigenous Heroes-They Also Served) National Project, wish to thank Diane Ashmore for writing and sharing her story with us, we appreciate your assistance and commitment.
HOME LIFE
Leslie Thomas Wogas was born 10th October, 1897 in Cudgen, son of Thomas & Florence A Wogas. The Wogas family & many relatives lived in and around the Murwillumbah area and Florence died in 1944 in Murwillumbah hospital.
ATTESTATION
Leslie travelled to Brisbane on 6th October 1917 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in Cudgen, was, 19 years and 11 months old and a single man. He gave his occupation as labourer. His next of kin was his father, John Thomas Wogas of Murwillumbah.
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia.
PAGE 2
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following
“The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him.
OATH
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, ………………. … swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law - SO HELP ME, GOD.”
PERMISSION TO ENLIST IF UNDER 21 YEARS OLD
Leslie also must have an application to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force signed by his parent/s.
The application states “ I Leslie Thomas Wogas, hereby offer myself for enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force for active service abroad and undertake to enlist in the manner prescribed, if I am accepted by the Military Authorise, within one month from date hereof”
Leslie then signs the form, stating his occupation and the date.
CONSENT OF PARENTS OR GUARDIANS (For persons under 21 years of age)
The form reads
“I hereby certify that I approve of the above application and consent to the enlistment of my son/ward for active service”
The parents then sign I the designated places.
ENLISTMENT DETAILS
He was enlisted as a private into the 11th Light Horse Regiment, 20th Reinforcement with service No 2448.
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together.
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave.
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months.
The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches, and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.
HOME LEAVE
On 26th November 1917 Leslie was granted 4 days home leave to visit his family prior to embarkation. He left on 27th November and returned on 1st December 1917.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO EGYPT
On 17TH December 1917his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on 19th December 1917 they embarked on the HMAT A38 Ulysses. Alongside his comrades, Leslie marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
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 the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.
Sleeping & Living Arrangements
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
Daily Routine
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
Meals
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. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
Health & Sanitation
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
The Voyage Experience
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.
The 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.
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.
SECURITY
By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.
APPROACHING EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.
MOASCAR TRAINING CAMP
When Leslie arrived at Suez on 16 January 1918 with the 20th Reinforcements of the 11th Light Horse Regiment, he was stepping into a well-established rhythm of training and preparation that had been refined over years of campaigning in Egypt and Sinai. From Suez he was marched into camp at Moascar, one of the principal Australian training depots near the Sweet Water Canal, where reinforcements were absorbed, hardened, and prepared for active service with their regiments in the field.
At Moascar, Leslie’s days would have been full and demanding. Physical conditioning was a priority, with route marches under the Egyptian sun designed to build stamina and accustom men to long hours in the saddle or on foot. Parade ground drill reinforced discipline and unit cohesion, while weapons training ensured that every man was confident with his rifle, bayonet, and revolver. Musketry practice was regular, often carried out on nearby ranges, with an emphasis on accuracy and speed—skills vital for Light Horsemen who were expected to fight both mounted and dismounted.
As a Light Horse reinforcement, Leslie would also have received instruction in mounted work, including horse management, saddling, and care in desert conditions. Even when horses were not immediately available, men trained as if they would soon rejoin their mounts, learning how to move swiftly into action, fight on foot, and then remount and advance. Field exercises rehearsed patrol work, outpost duties, and rapid deployment—preparing Leslie for the mobile warfare that characterised operations in Palestine.
Beyond the formal training, life at Moascar was about acclimatisation and readiness. The heat, dust, and flies of Egypt were constant companions, and learning to live and work effectively in such conditions was part of a soldier’s education. Periods of rest were brief, but letters home, shared meals, and quiet moments in camp helped forge friendships among the reinforcements, many of whom would soon face combat together.
On 29 April 1918 Leslie marched out of Moascar, his training complete. A few days later, on 5 May, he was taken on strength, formally joining his unit in the field. By then, the weeks at Moascar had transformed him from a newly arrived reinforcement into a prepared Light Horseman, ready to take his place alongside seasoned veterans in the final phases of the campaign.
DESERT WARFARE
When Leslie was taken on strength on 5 May 1918, he left behind the relative routine of the training camps and became part of the operational life of the 11th Light Horse Regiment. By this stage of the war, the regiment was an experienced and battle-hardened unit, engaged in ongoing operations in Palestine as part of the Desert Mounted Corps. Leslie would have been absorbed into a troop and quickly brought up to speed by men who had already seen extensive service in the desert campaign.
The months that followed were marked less by large set-piece battles and more by constant, wearing duty. Leslie’s daily life would have consisted of long hours in the saddle, patrols across wide stretches of country, and the ever-present tasks of picquet and outpost work. These duties were essential to maintaining pressure on the enemy, protecting the front line, and denying movement across key routes. Patrols often involved moving forward under cover of darkness or at first light, observing enemy positions, and withdrawing before contact could escalate.
When Leslie was taken on strength, he joined the 11th Light Horse Regiment while it was actively engaged in operations in Palestine as part of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. The regiment was holding forward positions along the front and maintaining constant pressure on Ottoman forces. For Leslie, this marked the beginning of sustained operational service rather than formal training, and he was quickly absorbed into the daily rhythm of a mounted fighting unit.
Training did not cease once Leslie reached the regiment. Instead, it became more practical and directly tied to operations. He would have taken part in mounted manoeuvres, dismounted action drills, and rehearsals for rapid advances and withdrawals. Time was also spent maintaining equipment, caring for horses, and ensuring weapons were kept in reliable condition despite the dust and heat. For a Light Horseman, the bond with his horse was vital, and much of Leslie’s effort would have gone into keeping his mount fit and serviceable under demanding conditions.
Throughout the late autumn and winter months of 1918, the regiment was heavily involved in patrol and outpost duties. Leslie would have taken part in reconnaissance patrols that pushed forward into contested ground, observing enemy positions and testing their strength. These patrols often led to brief but sharp encounters, with exchanges of rifle fire and the constant risk of ambush. Although this period did not involve large, named battles, the work was dangerous and exhausting, requiring long hours in the saddle and steady nerve under fire.
Between patrols, the regiment continued mounted and dismounted training under operational conditions, refining rapid deployment drills and rehearsing actions that could be called upon at short notice. Camps were temporary and often exposed, and the men endured heat, dust, flies, and shortages of water. Maintaining horses, weapons, and equipment was a daily necessity, and the strain of continuous service took a cumulative toll on health and endurance.
By September 1918, the regiment moved into a period of major fighting during the final Allied offensive in Palestine. The 11th Light Horse took part in the operations that culminated in the Battle of Megiddo, where mounted troops played a decisive role. Leslie would have been involved in fast-moving advances, covering great distances at speed as Ottoman resistance collapsed. This phase of the campaign combined intense bursts of combat with relentless pursuit, as enemy forces were harried, cut off, and forced into retreat.
Following the breakthrough, the regiment continued its advance northwards, carrying out pursuit operations, capturing prisoners, and securing key ground. The pace was demanding, with little opportunity for rest, and the physical toll of months of active service was increasingly evident.
HOSPITALISATION- MALARIA OCTOBER 1918
It was in the aftermath of these exhausting operations that Leslie’s health finally failed. On 27 October 1918, after nearly six months of continuous duty with his regiment in the field, he was admitted to hospital suffering from malaria, bringing this phase of his wartime service to an abrupt end.
Following his admission to hospital with malaria on 27 October 1918, Leslie was evacuated from the field and transferred to Alexandria, where he was admitted to the 21st General Hospital on 16 November. Malaria was a well-recognised and serious condition in the Middle East theatre, and treatment focused on controlling fever, preventing complications, and reducing the likelihood of relapse. Leslie would have been placed on bed rest and closely monitored, with his temperature taken regularly as the characteristic cycles of fever were managed.
The principal medication used was quinine, the standard and most effective treatment available at the time. Quinine was administered either orally or, in more severe cases, by injection, and although effective, it often caused unpleasant side effects such as nausea, ringing in the ears, and headaches. In addition to quinine, Leslie would have received supportive care including fluids to prevent dehydration, light but nourishing meals, and medications to reduce fever and relieve pain. Clean bedding, improved sanitation, and protection from mosquitoes were essential parts of treatment, aimed at both recovery and preventing reinfection.
CONVALESCENCE & CARE
By 19 November, Leslie’s condition had improved sufficiently for him to be transferred to the BRCC Depot at Mustapha. This marked a shift from acute hospital care to convalescence. Although no longer confined to bed, he would still have been under medical supervision and may have continued a reduced course of quinine to guard against relapse. Duties were light, and the focus was on restoring strength through rest, gentle activity, and a gradual return to routine.
On 27 November, Leslie was moved to the International Hospital at Moascar, closer to the main Australian camps. Here, medical oversight continued, but treatment was less intensive. The emphasis was on observation and recovery rather than intervention, ensuring that symptoms did not return as his activity levels slowly increased. Malaria was notorious for recurring if men returned to duty too quickly, and these staged transfers reflected the army’s caution.
On 7 December, Leslie was sent to a rest camp at Port Said. Rest camps provided a more relaxed environment, with better accommodation, regular meals, and minimal duties. Leslie would have been encouraged to rebuild his strength, spending time outdoors, sleeping properly, and gradually regaining fitness, all while remaining under medical observation.
REJOINED UNIT DECEMBER 1918
Having demonstrated sustained improvement, Leslie was finally cleared to rejoin his unit on 8 December 1918. His return marked the successful completion of a carefully managed recovery process, one that reflected both the seriousness of malaria and the army’s growing experience in treating and rehabilitating men affected by disease during the Middle Eastern campaign.
WAR ENDED
After rejoining his unit on 8 December 1918, Leslie returned to regimental life at a time when active fighting had ceased but routine duties and movement were still ongoing. Although he had been declared fit enough to resume service, malaria was notorious for recurring, particularly when men were exposed again to fatigue, climate, and disrupted rest.
RELAPSE OF MALARIA APRIL 1919
During the early months of 1919, Leslie’s health once more deteriorated. On 26 April 1919 he was again reported sick and admitted to hospital, marking a relapse or recurrence of his earlier illness rather than a new condition. Such relapses were well recognised by medical authorities, even among men who had previously completed treatment and convalescence.
Leslie remained under medical care through late April and into May. Treatment during this second admission would have followed the same established pattern: renewed courses of quinine to control fever and suppress the malarial parasite, strict rest, and close observation. Medical staff were particularly cautious at this stage, as repeated relapses could weaken a soldier significantly and prolong recovery. The aim was not only to relieve symptoms, but to stabilise his condition sufficiently to allow eventual repatriation.
By this point, with the war concluded and demobilisation underway, the emphasis of care had shifted from returning men to active units to restoring them to a condition suitable for return to Australia. Leslie’s continued illness made him a clear candidate for this process. Once his condition allowed, arrangements were made for him to leave the theatre of operations.
GOING HOME
On 20 July 1919, Leslie embarked for Australia aboard the transport Morvada, bringing his overseas service to a close. His final months reflect the enduring impact of tropical disease on soldiers of the Middle Eastern campaign, many of whom carried the effects of malaria long after the fighting had ended.
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service Leslie was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. He was discharged 22 September 1919
HOME LIFE
Leslie married Bertha Victoria Noels in Sydney in 1938
WWI
Leslie enlisted WWII N2152 pm 16th November 1940 in Tweed Heads and served with the 15th Motor Regiment. He was discharged on 2nd February 1945
DEATH
Leslie died 26th November 1964, in Tweed Heads and is buried in the Anglican section of Tweed Heads Lawn Cemetery.
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