Leslie Beavis

Major General Leslie Ellis Beavis, (25 January 1895 – 27 September 1975) was a soldier in the Australian Army, who served in the First World War and was a general during the Second World War. He later served as Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan.

Early life Beavis was born in Bathurst, New South Wales, on 25 January 1895. He was the son of Horace Colin Dean Beavis, a photographer, and his wife Emma Weston . He received his education at Bathurst District School and in March 1913 he entered the Royal Military College in Duntroon.

Military career First World War Following the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Beavis' course at the College was shortened and he graduated in June 1915, top of his class. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Assigned to the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, he shipped to the Middle East in November, serving in Egypt during the Sinai and Palestine campaign before being transferred to the Western Front in April 1916.

Beavis subsequently returned to his unit and on 21 April 1918, men of his unit were involved in the shooting down of Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron. The action was witnessed by Beavis, and in the ensuing investigation as to who shot down the German ace, Beavis placed credit for the kill with his Lewis gunners. He was mentioned in despatches for the second time (the first was in 1917) on 28 May 1918.

Interwar period Following the conclusion of the war, Beavis remained in England to undertake ordnance and artillery training and in August 1919, married Ethel May Blumer. Following a period of time at Australian High Commission in London, he and his wife returned to Australia in 1922 where he served in a number of staff and regimental positions. In 1928, he once again went to England to attend the Staff College at Camberley. Following his studies, he spent time on the Imperial General Staff, and then was subsequently posted for a second stint in London with the Australian High Commission. However, a counterargument that available funds should be prioritised for government factories found greater favour. Following the disbandment of the Defence Resources Board in April 1937, Beavis returned to his regular army duties. Promoted to temporary major general in April 1942, he returned to Australia to succeed Major General Edward Milford in the position of master-general of the ordnance. He was tasked with co-ordination of private and government manufacturers and producers to provide logistic support for Australia's soldiers, both at home and overseas. As the war came to a close, he found his work becoming more difficult as Australia began to move away from a wartime footing. Within a month he retired from the Australian Army. He served as the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan from 1952 to 1954. From 1954 until 1960, he was honorary colonel of the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps. He died at the age of 80 on 27 September 1975 in a hospital in Heidelberg, a suburb of Melbourne. Honoured by a military funeral after which his remains were cremated, he was survived by a son and daughter.