The Australian War Memorial records show that 2344 Pte Leonard Albert Balzary of the 23 Battalion of the First AIF was killed in action on Westhoek Ridge near Ypes in Belgium on 21 September 1917. Leonard was working as a clerk and enlisted in Melbourne on 5 July 1915. He was then aged 18 and was living with his parents at 5 Evansdale Road in Malvern where he had attended State School No 2586 on Tooronga Road. He had previously served four years in the senior cadets and six months with the citizen forces. He embarked from Melbourne on 29 September 1915 on the HMAT RMS OSTERLEY on 25 September 1915 as part of the fifth reinforcements for the 23 battalion of the 6th Infantry Brigade. His father informed the authorities that he 'served in Egypt afterwards in France with B coy 23 battalion as a stretcher bearer'. His brother, Clifford, served with the 5 Divisional Signal Company (see his record) and two of his cousins were also killed in action (no details of their names).

The following 'In Memorium' notice was published in the 21 September 1918 edition of the Argus: 'BALZARY - In lovong memory of our beloved eldest son, Private Leonard Albert, stretcher bearer, 23rd Battalion, who fell in France on 21 September 1917, also his cousin Sapper R. J. Bassett, who died of wounds on 20th September 1917, loved brother and cousin of Cliff (on active service), Ray, George and Will, aged 20 years and eleven months.'