Colin Boyce MP

Colin Boyce MP - Member for Callide

1 month ago

My Great Uncle Leslie.

Thank you Tom Marland for your Tribute.

Lest We Forget.“The second lieutenant”

I spent 5 years at Toowoomba Grammar School in a boarding house named after L.A. Boyce.

It was like my second home and those that shared my house were like my family.

I never knew the history of the man that my "house" was named after until years later.

Leslie Atherton Boyce was born in 1897 in Burketown in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

He won a scholarship to attend the Toowoomba Grammar School in 1911.

T.G.S. Headmaster G.P. Barbour in 1911 wrote about Boyce to his parents:

"Your boy has exceptional ability - certainly the ablest, naturally, of our 150 boys …
It is seldom that we schoolmasters strike so interesting a pupil"

He was a good cricketer and gifted student and graduated in 1914.

Upon turning 18, in January 1916 he enlisted with the 41st Battalion of the AIF and sailed from Sydney for the battlefields of Europe in May 1916.

He fought in France and was promoted to field Second Lieutenant in June 1917 - six days after his 20th birthday.

He later fought in the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge near Passchendaele where he was wounded and evacuated to hospital in London.

For his gallantry he won the Military Cross in 1918.

His citiation, published in the Anzac Bulletin of June 14, 1918, reads:

Second Lieutenant Leslie Atherton BOYCE, Infantry. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of his Platoon during an attack, and of the Company after reaching the objective, all of the other officers being killed or wounded. He remained in command for two days consolidating the position and repelling counter attacks.

Upon his recovery, he re-joined the Allied defensive and was seriously wounded in the Battle of the Somme suffering machine gun wounds to his hip, groin and thighs.

He returned to Australia in a wheel chair but went on to live a long life involved in business, politics and philanthropy.

On his death he donated his home and gardens located on 7 hectares in East Toowoomba to the University of Queensland.

He had “my” boarding house named after him in 1942.

While we are going through tough times now it’s important to remember the sacrifices and the people that came before us.

This ANZAC day - lest we forget.

“The second lieutenant”

He stood upon a lonely muddy trench;
And perused the bloody foreign field.
10,000 men had already lost their lives;
For very little gain or little yield.

They'd left their home now far away;
To a place called Passchendaele.
It would be the third Flanders offensive;
This time they could not afford to fail.

The orders came from high above;
12 divisions would make the charge.
The men were tired, hungry and wounded;
But their hearts were still strong and large.

The drop off point was 6pm;
They would have artillery cover.
But once the big guns signalled off;
German machine guns they’d have to smother.

As the last mortar landed, the whistle blew;
The troops went over the top.
A few hundred feet of sodden ground;
Who knew what force they’d cop.

The scene was like one straight from hell;
The soldiers fell like fly.
The brave soldiers met their bloody end;
As their officers also began to die.

The scene was one of pure carnage;
They were being picked off like stuck deer.
Then a lowly second lieutenant;
Took the bloody reins, with no bloody fear.

“Lads there is no use staying here;
We’ll be murdered without boast.
The only way out of this godawful mess
Is to take that machine gun post!”

When all was lost, the young lieutenant
Dodged bullets to get within range
He rained the machine gun with grenades
The battle tide was about to change

The Australians stormed the German lines
With rifles and bayonets fixed beneath
When the bullets and grenades all ran out
They fought with hands and teeth.

The Germans were now over run
Out manoeuvred and then out flanked
Thanks to the bravery of one second lieutenant
A hundred lives to him be thanked

The Australians had reached their objective
But all their officers had been killed or stranded.
The young lieutenant was the last one left
The whole company he now commanded

For two long days they held their post
From German artillery and counter attack
They could go no further forward
And there was no chance of going back

Finally fresh reinforcements did arrive
To relieve the tired and wounded men
The young lieutenant still held his ground
To the final bloody end.

The replacement Captain looked around
Over the beaten and bloody souls
“Whose the man in charge here?
Whose the officer who held this goal?

The young lieutenant raised his weary hand
and walked over to report his post
“I am the only one left standing Sir;
The others are either wounded or now a ghost.

The captains look was one of shock
Of this brave lieutenants courage under fire
“You’ve done your men and country proud
To the back lines you can now retire.

20,000 soldiers had lost their lives
To win that bloody futile ground
The loss included 7,800 Anzacs;
Many of their bodies were never found

The second lieutenant won the military cross
But there were battles still yet to be won
There was no time for celebration
His next post was at the Somme.

100 years later the mud is gone
Now replaced with poppy fields
But the soil is enriched with the brave souls
Who died for our freedom to shield

And now it’s time for Anzac Day
To remember those who paid the ultimate cost
And while the guns are now silent
Their memories will be never lost

And on this years dawn service
Remember those that came before
And while we think we are doing it tough
It’s nothing on the lot they bore

So say a little thank-you,
Say a little prayer
Hug your family that bit more tighter
And be grateful for the freedom we all share ... See MoreSee Less