Dive Copse British Cemetery
Roll of Honour
M - Z
1720 Lance Corporal
Leslie Gordon Meston
18th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th May 1918, aged 29.
Plot III. G. 15.
Son of Alexander and Janet Louisa Meston, of 73, Victoria St., Lewisham, Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription "He sleeps among the honoured dead, his duty nobly done."
A 26 year old dairyman prior to enlisting on 17 May 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 2nd Reinforcements from Sydney on 19 June 1915 aboard HMAT Kanowna. After joining the battalion in France, he was wounded in action at Pozieres and at Bullecourt, and on each occasion recovered to rejoin his battalion. L Cpl Meston was killed in action at Morlancourt on 19 May 1918 and is buried in the Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec, France. His younger brother, 1394 Private Harold Victor Meston was accidentally killed in France on 4 April 1916 and buried at Salmaise Communal Cemetery.
4441 Corporal Hackett, witnessed the death of Leslie Meston: "I saw him lying dead in No Man's Land at Morlancourt. He was brought in and buried but I can't say where, I knew him, he was in the same platoon and was well liked among the men. He was hit by a M. G. (Machine Gun) bullet when trying to get through the wires when we were attacking."
Leslie Gordon Meston
18th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th May 1918, aged 29.
Plot III. G. 15.
Son of Alexander and Janet Louisa Meston, of 73, Victoria St., Lewisham, Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription "He sleeps among the honoured dead, his duty nobly done."
A 26 year old dairyman prior to enlisting on 17 May 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 2nd Reinforcements from Sydney on 19 June 1915 aboard HMAT Kanowna. After joining the battalion in France, he was wounded in action at Pozieres and at Bullecourt, and on each occasion recovered to rejoin his battalion. L Cpl Meston was killed in action at Morlancourt on 19 May 1918 and is buried in the Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec, France. His younger brother, 1394 Private Harold Victor Meston was accidentally killed in France on 4 April 1916 and buried at Salmaise Communal Cemetery.
4441 Corporal Hackett, witnessed the death of Leslie Meston: "I saw him lying dead in No Man's Land at Morlancourt. He was brought in and buried but I can't say where, I knew him, he was in the same platoon and was well liked among the men. He was hit by a M. G. (Machine Gun) bullet when trying to get through the wires when we were attacking."
756A Private
Frederick Leslie Midgley
"A" Coy. 18th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th May 1918, aged 24.
Plot III. B. 7.
Son of Richard Samuel Midgley and Fanny Midgley, of Menai, New South Wales.
His parents added the following inscription to his headstone; "Greater love hath no man than he that gave his life for his friends."
A 24 year old plasterer prior to enlisting on 28 August 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 7th Reinforcements of the Australian Cyclists Corps from Sydney on 6 November 1916 aboard HMAT Benalla. On arrival in England, he transferred to the 18th Battalion and proceeded to France where he was wounded in action. On recovery, he served in Belgium and France where he was killed in action at Morlancourt on 19 May 1918.
Frederick Leslie Midgley
"A" Coy. 18th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
19th May 1918, aged 24.
Plot III. B. 7.
Son of Richard Samuel Midgley and Fanny Midgley, of Menai, New South Wales.
His parents added the following inscription to his headstone; "Greater love hath no man than he that gave his life for his friends."
A 24 year old plasterer prior to enlisting on 28 August 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 7th Reinforcements of the Australian Cyclists Corps from Sydney on 6 November 1916 aboard HMAT Benalla. On arrival in England, he transferred to the 18th Battalion and proceeded to France where he was wounded in action. On recovery, he served in Belgium and France where he was killed in action at Morlancourt on 19 May 1918.
Lieutenant Colonel
William Digby Oswald, D. S. O. & Twice Mentioned in Despatches
5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) and 12th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
16th July 1916, aged 36.
Plot II. B. 25.
Son of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Oswald; husband of Catherine Mary Oswald, of St. Winning, Weymouth, Dorset.
His headstone bears the inscription "Omnia Vincit Amor Let Light Perpetual Shine R. I. P."
William Digby Oswald, D. S. O. & Twice Mentioned in Despatches
5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) and 12th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
16th July 1916, aged 36.
Plot II. B. 25.
Son of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Oswald; husband of Catherine Mary Oswald, of St. Winning, Weymouth, Dorset.
His headstone bears the inscription "Omnia Vincit Amor Let Light Perpetual Shine R. I. P."
6876 Private
Frederick Thomas Pether
22nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th May 1918, aged 20.
Plot III. H. 21.
Originally from Camden Town, England, Pte Pether was a labourer from Wangoom, Victoria prior to enlistment and embarked with the 19th Reinforcements, 22nd Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Ascanius on 11 May 1917. Initially reported as missing in action it was later determined that on 12 May 1918, aged 20, he was killed in action. His remains were subsequently recovered and re-interred in the Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec, France.
Frederick Thomas Pether
22nd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
12th May 1918, aged 20.
Plot III. H. 21.
Originally from Camden Town, England, Pte Pether was a labourer from Wangoom, Victoria prior to enlistment and embarked with the 19th Reinforcements, 22nd Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Ascanius on 11 May 1917. Initially reported as missing in action it was later determined that on 12 May 1918, aged 20, he was killed in action. His remains were subsequently recovered and re-interred in the Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-Sec, France.
1405 Private
William G. Saw
7th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
3rd July 1916, aged 22.
Plot II. B. 2.
Son of Albert and Maria Saw, of 3, Richmond Rd., Beddington, Croydon, Surrey.
William G. Saw
7th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
3rd July 1916, aged 22.
Plot II. B. 2.
Son of Albert and Maria Saw, of 3, Richmond Rd., Beddington, Croydon, Surrey.
551 Private
Thomas Tulip
19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
18th July 1916, aged 29.
Plot II. C. 14.
Son of Elizabeth Tulip Young, of 14, Brecon Hill, Fence Houses, Co. Durham.
Also pictured with his brother, Ladas, who survived the war
Pictures courtesy of great nephew Barrie Forbes
Thomas Tulip
19th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
18th July 1916, aged 29.
Plot II. C. 14.
Son of Elizabeth Tulip Young, of 14, Brecon Hill, Fence Houses, Co. Durham.
Also pictured with his brother, Ladas, who survived the war
Pictures courtesy of great nephew Barrie Forbes
Second Lieutenant
John Alberic Everard Upton
"D" Company, 3rd Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
20th August 1916, aged 25.
Plot II. F. 38.
Son of John St. Clair Upton and Grace Anna Upton, of Market Drayton, Salop. Born at Market Drayton.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away"
John Alberic Everard Upton
"D" Company, 3rd Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
20th August 1916, aged 25.
Plot II. F. 38.
Son of John St. Clair Upton and Grace Anna Upton, of Market Drayton, Salop. Born at Market Drayton.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away"
3537 Driver
Albert Warner
4th Bn. Australian Machine Gun Corps
16th August 1918.
Plot III. C. 10.
Albert Warner
4th Bn. Australian Machine Gun Corps
16th August 1918.
Plot III. C. 10.
