Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Robert and Selina Leckie, of Reid St., Wilcannia, New South Wales.

Yet another to join the ranks is Mr. R. A. Leckie, owner of Avenue Station, Wilcannia, now home on final leave, beere sailing for the front with the 6th Light Trench Mortar Battery.  We heartily wish him, and other 'Stock Journal' readers who have enlisted, a safe and speedy return to Australia, when the war is happily over.

A WILCANNIA CHAMPION.
Trooper R. A. Leckie, of Wilcannia, distinguished himself in athletics on Anzac Day and won the hurdle race championship of Salisbury Plain (reports the "Grazier"). Bob modestly mentions in his letter home that there were 45,000 men in the various camps on Salisbury Plain, so he "did not do too badly coming from Australia." The prize was worth £5 as  well as a £5 5/ medal, which he is sending to his mother.
Since this event Trooper Leckie had the misfortune to be injured during bomb practice, one of the men accidentally dropping a bomb on his foot, blowing the boot to pieces and  reaking a bone in the instep. He hopes, however, to be about again soon.

The news was received in Wilannia on Tuesday last that Private R.A. Leckie, third son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Leckie, of The Avenue, Wilcannia, had been killed in action in France on November 6.  Private Leckie enlisted in Wilcannia towards the end of last year.  After arriving in England he was attached to a remount division and the first intimation his people had of leaving England was the news of this death while with a trench mortar battery in France.  Two brothers, William and John Leckie are also serving with the artillery in France.

The following extract from a letter sent to Mr Downs, from Mr. Harry Gullett, the well-known Australian war correspondent, has been handed to us for publication. Poor Bob travelled from Australia to England by the same steamer, the Oaterley, as Mr and Mrs Gullett and child, and the letter speaks for itself :
"Sept. 20, 1919.
"I am very sad at the news of poor Lecky, and Penelope (Mrs Gulllet) will be much distressed. He was one of our special favorites among the men we met during the war. He had a very rare touch with children— always the sign of great goodness in a man. On the "Osterley" Joe, who was then just over two years old, spent most of his time down on my deck among the men where he had a host of friends. But his special mate was Bob Lecky. He would come very shyly and unsteadily along the crowded deck, picking his way over the  sprawling legs of the men, and many would try to induce him to settle down and play with them. But altho' he dalied here and there, he always kept on until he discovered Lecky.  Then there would be an ecstatic cry of "Bob," and he would hang on to Lecky until his mother came for him. lt was an odd and very beautiful mateship, continued for a couple of  months. When Lecky got his first leave in England he went and saw them in London, but I was then in France. Since then we heard nothing of him and were always uneasy. We  never had his Australian address I think. So many fine characters one touched in the war went that way. However ........"
"Best wishes,
(Signed) HARRY GULLETT."