William Murdoch Le Brun was a young man on a mission, a 20 year old young man desperately wanting to get to fight in the war with his friends. Yet not even 12 months after enlisting he was dead…..

Willie was born in Brunswick, a suburb just 6 kms north of the city of Melbourne. His parents were Murdoch Le Brun and Rebecca Ann Moore, who had ten children, William being their third.

William Murdoch Le Brun Joined the AIF (Australian Imperial Forces) on 13 July 1915, declaring he was 20 years and one month of age and his occupation as a farmer.

He nominated his father as his Next of Kin, stating the address was Mirboo South, in Victoria, Australia.   He was 5′ 7″ tall, weighed 8st 11lbs,  chest 32-35.   His complexion was medium, eyes blue, hair Brown and had a scar on front of left wrist, 1 1/2″ long and his service number was 3393.

He departed Melbourne on board HMAT A71 “Nestor” on 11 October 1915 and he was taken on strength at 7th Battalion at Tel-El-Kebir, Egypt on 7 January 1916.

He was admitted to hospital at Serapeum, Cairo, in January suffering from Mumps and discharged one month later, rejoining his Battalion in March. He embarked Alexandria 26 March 1916 for France, disembarking at Marseilles and the 7th Battalion entered the front line trenches for the first time on 3 May.

The 7th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Like the 5th, 6th and 8th Battalions, it was recruited from Victoria and, together with these battalions, formed the 2nd Brigade. The battalion was raised by Lieutenant Colonel H. E. “Pompey” Elliott within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914.

William Murdoch Le Brun was killed in action on 2nd June 1916 and buried by Rev G W Carter at Military Cemetery Rue David, 3 1/2 miles SSW of Armentieres, France on the 11th June.   His personnel effects were listed as:  Disc, Prayer Book, Razor, Pipe, Handkerchief, Mirror (broken), Belt, with Badges, Buttons, Gun metal Watch (glass broken), letters, coins (4), Wrist Strap.   These were dispatched by registered packet to his mother in December 1916.

On 15 Oct 1920, his mother Rebecca received his 1914 -15 Star, the Memorial Plaque and Kings message on 16 Jan 1922, and the Victory Medal 1 Feb 1923.   He was also awarded the British War Medal but the date of receipt is unclear.

Read more about William LeBrun and others on Leone Fabre’s Blog