Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

THE LATE LIEUTENANT GROVE.

Mr. and Mrs. D. Grove, of Canonbury Grove, Dulwich Hill, N.S.W., have received confirmatory information from the Defence Department of the death of their only son, Lieutenant Leander de Lorme Grove, who was killed ,in action at Moquet Farm, France, on September 3, when leading his men in an attack upon a second enemy line trench. The deceased officer was born at Hope House, Forest Rise, Essex, England, on December 15, 1896, and at the age of five was sent to Glencoil College, Deal, on the eve of his father's departure as the chief of the Angosche Expedition to Portuguese East Africa. He was subsequently educated at Winchester House School, Deal, until rejoining his father in South Africa, where he attended firstly St. George's Cathedral Grammar School, Capetown, and later the Pinetown School. Natal, in which States he first learnt his cadet drill.

Arriving in Australia in 1912, he was first sent to Petersham High School, and then, in 1913, to the Church of England Grammar School, North Sydney, under Mr. W. A. Purve. M.A.. headmaster, formerly of Toowoomba. He had taken up geology and mineralogy as a special study, and was learning practical diamantological work under Captain J. J. Collingwood at the outbreak of the present war, when he at once volunteered for active service at Inverell. Although a sergeant of cadets, he was not quite 18 years of age, so was telegraphed for by his father to join the latter at Toowoomba, where, after convincing his father that he should rally to the call of Old England and France as his forbears for centuries had done, he joined the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment. He became a signaller, and was made a corporal on his 19th birth day in the trenches at Gallipoli. Soon after he was promoted to squadron ser geant. After the evacuation of Gallipoli on December 19 his regiment was reformed in Egypt. He was offered a commission in an infantry battalion, and, although loath to leave the glorious old 2nd A.L.H., .be thought it his duty to follow his chief into the fighting line in France. He passed through the Imperial School of Instruction at Zeitorm, and on arrival with his battalion in France was appointed scout and intell gence officer. He was congratulated by the Divisional Commander on August 23 for excellent work, carried out under heavy fire near Pozieres, and was promoted to full lieutenancy on July 30.

On the morning of September 8, having captured one enemy position, he was about to lead his men to attack a second line, when be was struck by a fragment from a high explosive shell, which killed him instantaneously. The late officer was of Scotch and French descent, one of his grand uncles, Major Mair, of the 71st Light Infanfry, won distinction in the Crimea, and another, Captain Charles Bremner, was killed In action at the Basuto war. The De Lormes left France over 300 years ago, and settled in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, under the British flag, which has been gratefully upheld by generations of that family ever since. He wrote his parents just before his death, stating that he was very proud of his brother officers and men of both Queensland regiments in which he had the honour to serve, and he hoped that Australians would never forget what they owe to the British navy, army, and Allies.

A memorial service was held to commemorate the late officer at the Church of England Grammar School, Sydney, and tributes have been received by his parents from all parts of the Empire to their son, who never missed a day's duty from August, 1914, until he fell in action on September 3, 1916.