Born in Ballarat, Victoria and a farmer by trade, Leslie Herbert Baird was 26 years and single when enlisted on the 25th of March 1916 in the 8th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of Private, Number 6219. His Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 'Euripides' on the 11th of September 1916. On the 16th of May 1916 transferred from 2nd London General Hospital to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital for gunshot wounds abdomen. On the 21st of April 1917 wounded in action. Private admitted to the 2nd General Hospital bullet wound abdomen in England on the 17th of May 1917. On the 25th of August 1917 embarked return to Australia for change abdominal wound per H.S. 'A2' from England. Discharged from the 3rd Military District on the 30th of November 1917. Tree No. 2203