Leslie Gottreux/Gottruex Watson was born in 1898 at Casa de Maria, 123 Gipps Street, East Melbourne.  He was the son of Edward J and Edith Watson.  At the time of his enlistment at Moonee Ponds on 22 November 1917 he gave his occupation as warehouseman.  He gave his father as his next of kin, address unknown.  His mother had died in 1913 when the family was living at Hampton.  Leslie gave his own address as C/- Mrs Butter, ‘Eleanor’, Mt Alexander Road, Ascot Vale.  He was 5ft 4ins, with a sallow complexion, brown eyes and dark hair.  He was appointed to the 58th  Battalion, 10th Reinforcements, as a private and sent to Broadmeadows for training.  In July 1918 he was found to be suffering from rheumatism.  His general circulation was poor, with an occasional irregular heart beat.  His heart was not enlarged but tachycardic on exertion. He was discharged 25 July 1918, medically unfit.