Whitfeld, Leslie Charles, GMVC 1905
COLONEL L. C. WHITFELD, D.S.O., G.M.V.C.
With the passing of Colonel Leslie Whitfeld at his home in Launceston on 9th October, 1955, the veterinary profession in Australia lost one of its senior and most respected members.
Leslie Charles Whitfeld was born in Tasmania in 1881 and received his veterinary education at the Melbourne Veterinary College of which the late William Kendall was founder and Principal.
He was commissioned in the Army Veterinary Department as 2nd Lieutenant in 1907 and in 1913 was appointed to the permanent section of the Australian Army Veterinary Corps as Staff Officer Veterinary Services, Tasmania, with the rank of Lieutenant.
Shortly after the outbreak of the 1914-18 war Captain Whitfeld embarked for Egypt where in 1915 he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Division as A.D.V.S. with the rank of Major. After the Gallipoli campaign he accompanied the Division to France and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was awarded the D.S.O. for distinguished service and devotion to duty.
After the war Lt. Col. Whitfeld was retained in the permanent forces, being appointed Assistant Director of Veterinary Services, Victoria, and Acting Director of Veterinary Services at Army Headquarters; to these appointments was added that of Director of Army Remounts in 1929.
Between the 1914-18 and the 1939-45 wars he vigorously pursued the policy of training veterinary officers of the militia and in maintaining a high standard of army remounts. He was especially interested in inculcating in all ranks an ideal of efficient horse-mastership and animal management as a means of preventing injury and disease.
During the 1939-45 war he was promoted to the rank of Temporary Colonel and was responsible for the purchase of some thousands of horses for cavalry and horse transport together with the veterinary and remount organisation to handle them.
In 1944 he retired from the Army with the rank of Honorary Colonel to enjoy a well merited rest in his beloved Tasmania after thirty-seven years of service to his country.
Colonel Whitfeld was a man of outstanding qualities, imposing stature and quiet dignity. He had the natural ability to command the esteem and respect of all, from generals to privates. He was a shrewd and capable judge of horses and it was both an education and an entertainment to stand beside him and hear his comments when remounts were being purchased or when the halt and the aged were being " boarded".
In the Australian Veterinary Association he played an active part, being a foundation member, President of the Victorian Division for three years [1930 to 1932], a member of Council for seven years and President of the A.V.A. from 1933 to 1935.
His many friends in and outside the profession and particularly those of us who were privileged to serve with Colonel Whitfeld will always remember him with respect as a soldier and with affection as a friend.
Our deepest sympathy is extended to his widow and son.
An outdoors group portrait of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel L C Whitfeld DSO (second row, centre) and unidentified NCOs of the Australian Veterinary Hospital Headquarters.
France: Nord Pas de Calais, Pas de Calais Calais. Image courtesy of Australian War Memorial