“Lieut. Leslie Alex. Craven died at the Wairau Hospital this morning, succumbing to injuries he received at the second battle of Gaza, Palestine. The deceased officer, who was 24 years of age, was the youngest son or Mr A. Craven, of Grovetown. When the war broke out he was a member of the teaching staff of the Grovetown School, and he immediately gave proof of that high sense of duty that was one of the traits of an especially fine character, promptly enlisting and being a member of one of the first drafts to leave Blenheim. He went forward as a trooper with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, included in the main body of the Expeditionary Force, and he was attached to the machine-gun section. He took part in all the actions at Gallipoli, from the landing of the Mounted Brigade to the evacuation. There be was promoted to the rank of sergeant and then to his lieutenancy, being given command of a section in August, 1916. He was given accelerated promotion for further good work in the field, and he was awarded the Military. Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action at the second battle of Gaza, in the Palestine campaign, on which occasion he was disabled by a shrapnel wound in the spine. He came back to New Zealand grievously paralysed, reaching Wellington on Christmas Day, 1917. After an interval of a few weeks there, he was removed to Blenheim and placed in the Wairau Hospital, where he remained throughout. Lieut., Craven was educated at the Grovetown School and the Marlborough High School.
Visiting Blenheim is Captain R. P. Harper, who commanded the machine-gun squadron of a section of which Lieut. Craven was in charge, and speaking to an Express reporter, he paid a high tribute to memory of the deceased. He said: “a finer or brave soldier never left New Zealand. All through the Gallipoli campaign, although he suffered severely from illness, he could not he got to leave his post. Personally he was, a very fine type of man. and he was greatly respected by all ranks for his; sterling qualities both on and off the field.” The flags were being down half mast in Blenheim to-day as a mark of respect to the late Lieut. Craven.” [Marlborough Express, Volume LII, Issue 241, 3 October 1918, Page 4]

“CRAVEN. —At the Wairau Hospital, on Thursday, October 3, 1918: Lieut. Leslie A. Craven, M.C., son of Mr and Mrs A. Craven, Grovetown; died of wounds received at Gaza, Palestine, April 19, 1917 ; aged 24 years.” [Marlborough Express, Volume LII, Issue 241, 3 October 1918, Page 4]