Fountain in memory of Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie James Morshead KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO
(1889-1959) (knighted for his defence of Tobruk in World War II) and the men who
served with him.
Morshead was born in Ballarat, Victoria and became a teacher, joining th AIF in September
1914 as a Lieutenant in the 2nd battalion at the outbreak of the First World War.
He landed at Gallipoli on Anzac Day 1915 as a captain and reached the rank of Major in
August. After Gallipoli he commanded the 33rd battalion promoted to lieutenant-colonel
and was sent to France arriving in november 1916. He was awarded the DSO and returned
to Sydney in 1919.
In 1939 at the beginning of WW2 he was promoted to temporary Brigadier and commanded the
18th brigade sailing for Britain, then the Middle East. His success at Tobruk was followed
by promotion to lieutenant general and command of the AIF in the Middle East.
He led the division through the battle of El Alamein, where the 9th Division's contribution
was considered vital to the victory.
After his return he held a number of directorships and civil appointments and was involved
in right-wing politics before becoming ill with cancer in the mid-1950s.
He died in Sydney on 26 September 1959.
The fountain was dedicated in 1966.
Australian War Memorial
Biographic Entry