On this day at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the Armistice was signed at the end of World War 1, and it is now a day to honor all who have served in wars and conflicts. Among those who served in that conflict was a soldier from Moruya – Leo de Saxe.
Leopold Franklin De Saxe, who also went by the name Bill, was born on the 13th June 1893 to Charles and Eleanor de Saxe. Charles de Saxe was Moruya’s dentist at the time. Leo had an older brother George who died in infancy and 2 younger brothers, Dudley and Charles.
Within two weeks of the Australian government announcing it was joining England in what was to become World War 1, Leo, who by this stage was a bank clerk with Bank of NSW, had enlisted in the Australian Infantry Expeditionary Force, making him one of the first to enlist from the district. His serial number was 320. At his first attempt he was rejected on grounds of his height. Not to be deterred Leo simply walked around and joined a second line and tried again and somehow he had managed to grow the required amount to be accepted. Recruiters became less choosey about this requirement as the war wore on.
Leo de Saxe (2nd from right) with fellow soldiers, Egypt 1915
Leo landed at Gallipoli on the 25th April. Leo was a strong swimmer and as a 12 year old saved the life of a boy fishing from Coomanderry Wharf on the Moruya River for which he was recognised with a bravery medal from the Humane Society of NSW. His swimming prowess once again came in handy. Leo recalled:
“A shell burst right in our boat. Of course we were in the drink, and what a shemozzle! Trying to get my puttees and boots off, and stay above water, you know. Luckily I was a good swimmer, but how many drowned around me I wouldn’t know, but must have been a lot of them. A naval pinnace (a small ship’s boat) came and hooked us out after about half an hour. They put a boathook round you and hauled you up on to the pinnace.”
Leo was wounded at Gallipoli but survived and found his way back to Australia in December 1915. On his return to Moruya he was a guest of honor at a social event at the Moruya Mechanics Institute in February the following year. He was discharged from the AIF as medically unfit in March 1916. After his discharge Leo returned to working at the bank retiring at the end of his career as a Bank Manager.
But this wasn’t the end of Leo’s association with the water. He was instrumental in establishing the Moruya Surf Club which was founded in 1932 and is still going strong after over 90 years later.
Leo passed away in 1988. His war medals are also on display at the museum.
Read more:
MORUYA and District Historical Society Blog 
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