Private Lester Sidney Bacon
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 1453
- Unit
- 16 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Gallipoli, Turkey
- Date of death
- 2 May 1915
- Age
- 25
- Plaque number
- L87A
- Co-located plaques
- L87 - PTE Peter Knight
- Dedicated by
- Friend on 21 June 2025
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Lester Sidney Bacon was believed to have been born in 1889 at St Pancras, London, England.
His father is unknown, and his mother was recorded as his next of kin: Alice Priscilla Flanders of the Raleigh Arms Hotel, Essex, England.
While it is unknown when Lester arrived in Australia, he is believed to have arrived in Western Australia around 1911.
In November 1914, Lester enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), conducting his training at Blackboy Hill.
He embarked from Fremantle in February 1915, attached to 16 Battalion with the second reinforcements for overseas service, sailing for Egypt.
Arriving in Egypt to conduct further training, he embarked from Alexandria for Gallipoli on 12 April 1915 in preparation for the Gallipoli campaign.
On 25 April 1915, Lester landed on the beach at Gallipoli, making his way to a position inland later known as Pope’s Hill, where the 16 Battalion established their line against the Turks.
On 2 May 1915, an advance towards a position known as Baby 700 was met with heavy Turkish machine gun fire.
Lester advanced up the hill known as the Bloody Angle. With continual machine-gun fire from the Turkish positions, the Australians sustained heavy casualties and eventually abandoned the attack.
Lester was killed in action during this attack and, his body was never recovered from the battlefield
Private Lester Sidney Bacon, regimental number 1453 of 16 Battalion, was killed in action on 2 May 1915 at the Bloody Angle, Gallipoli. He was 25 years of age.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial Gallipoli.
Lester's plaque is located next to that of Private Peter Knight of 16 Battalion who was killed on the same date.