LEAK, Hugh Phillips
| Service Number: | 2905 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 May 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 5 May 1897 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Unley Public School, Sturt Street Public School and Adelaide High School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Pozières, France, 5 August 1916, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide High School Honour Board, Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide Savings Bank of South Australia Honour Roll WW1, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, District of Upper Sturt Methodist Church Honour Board, District of Upper Sturt Methodist Church Honour Roll, Glenelg Moseley Street Uniting Church "Heroes of Two World Wars", Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, Upper Sturt and District Roll of Honour WW1 WW2, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 5 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2905, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2905, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2905, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2905, 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2905 awm_unit: 10 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-08-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Giordion Arvanitakis
Hugh Phillips Leak was born on the 5th of May 1897. His service number is 2905. Before he enlisted for WW1, he was still in the middle of school at Unley Public School. He enlisted on the 11th of May 1915. Hugh had one brother who was killed in France in 1918. His religion was Methodist and he was born at Adelaide Hyde Park, South Australia. His unit was the 10th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement. His previous military service was in the Cadets as Lieut. He was enlisted on the 5th of May 1915 at Keswick, South Australia.
Hugh's home was High Street, Glenelg, South Australia. His mother was Cleopatra Ann Leak, and his father’s name was Daniel Leak. He only had one other brother who participated in World War 1. He proceeded to join the B.E.F on the 27th of March 1916. Hugh carried with him an Automatic Pistol and a camera which went missing in Egypt. His family later attempted to locate these items (see pictures).
Hugh Phillips Leak was in the hospital on the 7th of January 1916 and was discharged from the hospital on 2nd of February 1916. He re-joined the Army. Hugh was wounded in action at Pozières and died from his wounds in France on the 5th of August 1916. He was 19 years old.
Before he enlisted, Hugh worked part-time as a bank clerk. He was single for his whole life. During World War 1 he was a Lance Corporal. His name is commemorated at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. Hugh Phillips Leak's name is located on panel 59.
Biography
Son of Daniel LEAK and Cleopatra Annie nee WINWOOD
Brother of Lieutenant Llewellyn Weston Claude Leak (/explore/people/80161) who died of wounds on 04 Sep 1918 in France
"Official intimation has been received by Mr. and Mrs. D. Leak, of Upper Sturt, that their younger son, Lce.-Cpl. Hugh Phillips Leak, has been killed in action in France. He celebrated the 19th anniversary of his birth in the trenches. He enlisted on the morning of his 18th birthday, and left for the front on August 26, 1915, with reinforcements. After his arrival in Egypt he was put into the machine gun section. He was educated at Unley and Sturt street Public Schools, and at the Adelaide High School. When he left the latter institution he entered the Public library, and at the time he went into camp was engaged at the Adelaide Savings Bank. For some time he resided at Glenelg with his grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Winwood), and was connected with the Moseley Street Methodist Church and Sunday School.
Prior to enlistment he was a second lieutenant in the Senior Cadets. He was a prominent member of the Glenelg United Cricket Club, and also took a lively interest in football and lacrosse. He occasionally played with local clubs. He was of fine physique, and stood 6 ft 2 in. high. He was a youth of sterling qualities. His only brother has just returned to the camp at Mitcham from Duntroon." - from the Adelaide Register 06 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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