Leonard John Armstrong enlisted as a trooper in the Auckland Mounted Rifles soon after war broke out, and embarked on the Tofua on 16 October 1914. He trained in Egypt before going onto Gallipoli with his unit. Armstrong was wounded on 29 May 1915, soon after arriving at Gallipoli but despite this, went on to receive honours for his work around this time. He was recommended for his "continuous good work with his machine gun" between April and August of 1915, was mentioned-in despatch, and was subsequently awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal