Leonard Handforth Jardine

Born 1890 - Died 15 May 1969

Service number: WWI 10/1049 AWMM
WWII 31543 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: Inter War Lieutenant Colonel/Military AWMM Taranaki Infantry Regiment AWMM
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

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Portrait of Lieutenant Leonard Handforth Jardine. Image sourced from Imperial War Museums' 'Bond of Sacrifice' collection. ©IWM HU 116328

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Wars and conflicts

War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
Campaign: 1918 AWMM Le Quesnoy AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Service number: WWI 10/1049 AWMM
WWII 31543 AWMM
Military service: Served with NZ Volunteers, 1907-1914 AWMM
Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers: New Zealand Rifle Brigade AWMM

Military decorations

Medals and Awards: Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and bar (DSO*) AWMM
1919 AWMM
DSO Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership at Gauzeancourt from 8 to 13th September 1918. His battalion was engaged in very heavy fighting against strong enemy positions held by picked troops. He constantly reconnoitred the front, having to pass through gas and enemy barrage and by keeping in the closest touch with the situation he was able to cope with several enemy counter attacks. It was owing to his skilful leadership that the operation was a success and his courage and coolness under heavy fire inspired all ranks." (London Gazette, 1 February 1919) DSO Bar Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and resouce at Le Quesnoy on the 4th November 1918. His battalion was detailed to capture the city. The enemy were holding a railway embankment in front of the city from which they brought such heavy machinegun fire to bear on our troops that the attack was temporarily held up. He promptly used his reserve troops with such skill that they overcame the resistance of the enemy and enabled the advance to be continued. Finally by his gallant and able leadership he was instrumental in bringing about the fall of the city." (London Gazette, 8 March 1919) AWMM
1914-1915 Star AWMM
British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
Victory Medal AWMM
Africa Star AWMM
War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal AWMM
New Zealand Territorial Service Medal AWMM
Military Cross (MC) AWMM
London Gazette 1 January 1917, p45, Rec No 381 Flers, 15th September 1916, and Grid Trench and Grid Support Trench, 1st October 1916. This officer has displayed conspicuous ability and leadership on several, but especially on the above two occasions. On the 15th September he handled his company with great skill when ordered up to cover the north of Flers and take up a new line. Again on the 1st October he displayed great presence of mind, resource and initiative, under heavy fire, when supporting two companies of the 2nd Otago Batt. who had suffered heavily from machine-gun fire. All the officers of the latter two companies had been either killed or wounded, and Captain Jardine reorganised the line at a critical time with admirable judgement. He is possessed of rare soldierly qualities and his work is deserving of special recognition. AWMM
Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
London Gazette 11 July 1919, p8837 For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period 16th September 1918, to 15th March 1919. AWMM
He is possessed of rare soldierly qualities and his work is deserving of special recognition.

Mention in Despatches
Gazetted 11 July 1919, p8837
For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period 16 September to 15 March 1919.

KNOWN AWARDS
Distinguished Service Order and bar
Military Cross
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Mention in Despatches
Africa Star
War Medal 1939-45
New Zealand War Service Medal
New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal
New Zealand Territorial Service Medal
Public - Mike - Researcher - 21 October 2017 - Military file
CITATION
Distinguished Service Order
Gazetted 1 February 1919, p1616
For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership at Gauzeancourt from 8th to 13th September 1918. His battalion was engaged in very heavy fighting against strong enemy positions held by picked troops. He constantly reconnoitred the front, having to pass through gas and enemy barrage and by keeping in the closest touch with the situation he was able to cope with several enemy counter attacks. It was owing to his skilful leadership that the operation was a success and his courage and coolness under heavy fire inspired all ranks

Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Gazetted 4 October 1919, p3225
For conspicuous gallantry and resource at Le Quesnoy on the 4th November 1918. His battalion was detailed to capture the city. The enemy were holding a railway embankment in front of the city from which they brought such heavy machine-gun fire to bear on our troops that the attack was temporarily held up. He promptly used his reserved troops with such skill that he overcame the resistance of the enemy and enabled the advance to be continued. Finally by his gallant and able leadership he was instrumental in bringing about the fall of the city

Military Cross
Gazetted 1 January 1917, p45
Flers 15 September 1916 and Grid Trench and Grid Support Trench 1 October 1916. This officer has displayed conspicuous ability and leadership on several, but especially on the above two occasions. On the 15th September he handled his company with great skill when ordered up to cover the north of Flers and take up a new line. Again on the 1st October he displayed great presence of mind, resource and initiative, under heavy fire, when supporting two companies of the 2nd Otago Battalion who had suffered heavily from machine gun fire. All the officers of the latter two companies had been either killed or wounded, and Captain Jardine reorganised the line at a critical time with admirable judgement. He is possessed of rare
Public - Mike - Researcher - 21 October 2017 - Military files

Training and Enlistment

Military training: —
Branch Trade Proficiency: —
Enlistment: WW1 05 Aug 1914 AWMM
Age 24 AWMM
Surveyor/Civilian AWMM
WW2 1940-1941 2NZEF Nom. Roll 3, p.238 Farmer/Civilian 2NZEF Nom. Roll 3, p.238
WW2 1941 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.178 Farmer/Civilian 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.178
Age on enlistment: —
Occupation before enlistment: —

Embarkations

Embarkation details: WW1 16 Oct 1914-03 Dec 1914 AWMM
HMNZT 7 AWMM Vessel was Arawa or Limerick AWMM Lieutenant/Military AWMM Wellington Infantry Battalion AWMM New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
WW2 Colonel/Military 2NZEF Nom. Roll 3, p.238 Ship's staff 2NZEF Nom. Roll 3, p.238 Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Third Echelon AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
WW2 Colonel/Military 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.178 Ship's staff 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.178 Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
3rd Embarkation AWMM

Last known rank

Last rank: Inter War 30 Oct 1919 AWMM Lieutenant Colonel/Military AWMM
Taranaki Infantry Regiment AWMM
Last rank: —

Sources

External links: Military Personnel File
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24060262
Further Reference
The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. New Zealand Electronic Text Centre.
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-NZRi.html
Further Reference
References: New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
p.365
Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 3 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1940 to 31st March, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
p.238
Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 4 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1941 to 30 June, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
p.178
Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (Eds.). (1993). New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order. Christchurch, N.Z.: Authors.
Includes portrait
Information kindly provided by family
Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 5: Includes portrait
Pugsley, C. (2018). Le Quesnoy, 1918 : New Zealand's Last Battle. Auckland, New Zealand : Oratia.
McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
The Le Quesnoy Campaign research was undertaken by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists as part of the development of New Zealand Liberation Museum - Te Arawhata (Le Quesnoy France). This research project was led by CJ Barbour (NZSG), BI Silvester, HH Farrant (NZMHS) with the support of NZSG volunteers (2022). The individuals included in this research dataset were identified as potentially having served in or around the wider Le Quesnoy campaign. Their presence at Le Quesnoy has not been individually verified in every case.
Austin, W. (1924). The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own). Wellington, N.Z.: L T Watkins.

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Leonard Handforth Jardine

Leonard Handforth Jardine

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