LUNN, Leonard Thomas
| Service Numbers: | 86, 1431 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force |
| Born: | Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, 1881 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Naracoorte, South Australia, 30 May 1939, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Naracoorte Cemetery, S.A. Old Section, Plot 98 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 86, Australian Army Pay Corps (AMF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, 86, Australian Army Pay Corps (AMF) | |
| 13 Aug 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 1431, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force | |
| 6 Sep 1918: | Involvement Private, 1431, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Meklong embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 6 Sep 1918: | Embarked Private, 1431, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, SS Meklong, Sydney | |
| 9 May 1921: | Discharged AIF WW1, 1431, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
Leonard was the son of Thomas Leonard LUNN & Marion Elizabeth BADGER and was born in 1881 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.
He was baptized on the 6th of March 1881 in St Augustine’s Church, Bermondsey, Surrey, England.
His parents were married on the 8th of November 1879 in St Ann’s Church in Tottenham, Middlesex, England.
His father was the son of Thomas LUNN and was born in 1842 in Portsea Island, Hampshire, England.
His mother was the daughter of Joseph BADGER & Jane BOWE and was born in 1841 in St Pancras, Middlesex, England.
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After he completed his education he gained and apprenticeship with the Sprite Cycle Company and was also employed as a Valet.
At the age of 20, Leonard enlisted into the Imperial Yeomanry, 13th Battalion, as a trooper on the 30th of January 1900 and was allotted the service number 14250.
He was part of the First Contingent to South Africa and served as Battalion Staff.
Leonard was discharged from the Imperial Yeomanry on the 13th of February 1900 at McKenzies Farm in Cape Town.
The second Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles was then formed on the 7th of January 1901 and Leonard enlisted into this and was allotted the service number 761.
The Battalion was converted to light horse and renamed 'Colonial Light Horse', (CLH) on the 1st of October 1901, after Boer forces under Gen Jan Smuts had invaded Cape Colony. At the time, the unit was commanded by an Australian, Major Arthur Baker DSO. The CLH initially had three squadrons and then formed a fourth in December 1901.
Whilst with the CLH Leonard was posted to the Concentration Camps with the Military Police.
Leonard was discharged form the CLH on the 22nd of January 1902 at his own request.
He stated his intended to reside at 201 Victoria Street, West Melbourne, with Mrs Fyffe.
Leonard arrived in Sydney on board the Wyandra on the 11th of December 1905 from Cape Town.
He married Violet Clarice COLBY in March 1906 in Sydney, NSW.
Violet was the daughter of William COLBY & Matilda SMITH and was born in 1889 in Victoria.
They welcomed their first child; Marion, in 1906 in Sydney and Leonard gained employment as an engineer.
Roderick Dudley was then born in 1908.
At the age of 35, Leonard enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 29th of December 1915 and served with the Australian Pay Corps in Liverpool Camp, NSW.
Leonard was discharged on the 22nd of August 1916 as his service was no longer required.
At the age of 38, Leonard enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 13th of August 1918 in Sydney and was allotted the service number N93605 and then 1431 and posted to the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force.
Leonard embarked from Sydney on board SS Meklong on the 6th of September 1918, disembarked in Rabaul on the 27th of September and was posted to the 3rd Battalion for Garrison duty.
Leonard remained here and then transferred to Civil Administration in Rabaul on the 9th of May 1921.
He was discharged from the AIF on the 9th of May 1921 and awarded the British War Medal.
Leonard returned to Sydney on the 23rd of February 1922 on board the Mataram from Rabaul.
The family then moved to 190 Alison Road, Coogee, near Randwick and Leonard gained employment as a civil servant.
Unfortunately by 1929 Leonard had deserted his wife and children and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
By 1933 Leonard and Violet were divorced and Violet and the children moved to Katoomba.
Leonard later moved to Naracoorte, SA where he died on the 30th of May 1939 and was buried in the Naracoorte Cemetery; Old Section, Plot 98.
Military
1st Enlistment
At the age of 35, Leonard enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 29th of December 1915 in Liverpool, NSW and was allotted the service number 86 and posted to the Australian Pay Corps in Liverpool Camp, NSW.
He listed his wife, of North Parade, Campsie, NSW, as his next of kin.
Leonard was discharged on the 22nd of August 1916 as his service was no longer required.
2nd Enlistment
At the age of 38, Leonard enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 13th of August 1918 in Sydney and was allotted the service number N93605 and then 1431 and posted to the
Naval and Military Expeditionary Force.
He listed his wife, of North Parade, Campsie, NSW, as his next of kin.
This unit was later known as the Tropical Force and were employed in Civil Admin and Garrison duty.
Leonard embarked from Sydney on board SS Meklong on the 6th of September 1918, disembarked in Rabaul on the 27th of September and was posted to the 3rd Battalion for Garrison duty.
On the 6th of August 1919 he was posted to Kaewieng Settlement (Agriculture Duty) and remained here until the 22nd of December when he returned to the Rabaul Garrison.
He spent Christmas 1919 here before being posted to Bita Paka on the 17th of January 1920 for a week.
Leonard was then posted to Tamulili on the 2nd of February for 3 days, then back to Kaewieng for 4 days, before returning to Garrison Duty in Rabaul.
Leonard was granted furlo and embarked from Rabaul for Australia on the 23rd of March 1920 on board SS Morinda.
He then re embarked from Sydney on board SS Melusia on the 1st of May 1920 and returned to Garrison Duty in Rabaul.
Leonard remained here for a further 12 months before transferring to Civil Administration in Rabaul on the 9th of May 1921.
Leonard was discharged from the AIF on the 9th of May 1921 and awarded the British War Medal.
Leonard returned to Sydney on the 23rd of February 1922 on board the Mataram from Rabaul.