Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Company Quartermaster Sergeant Edward Gordon William Leader (Service No. 881), an Australian World War One veteran who served our nation at Gallipoli, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with a plaque recognising their service for Australia.

On 20 September 2025, we unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery, along with a further 161 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
see Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

Edward Gordon William Leader was born in January 1880 at Preston, Lancashire, England. Before the war he worked as a horse breaker and was living in Cloncurry, Queensland. On 14 December 1914 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force joining the 2nd Light Horse Regiment as a Private.

He embarked from Brisbane on 8 April 1915 aboard HMAT Star of England (A15) for service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. After arriving in Egypt he proceeded to Gallipoli, where on 6 August 1915 his temporary promotion to Acting Lance Corporal was cancelled on completion of specific duties. He served with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment through the final months of the campaign before being evacuated to Egypt in late 1915.

In early 1916 he moved through training and staging depots before transferring on 1 May 1916 to the newly formed 4th Pioneer Battalion, where he was soon promoted Sergeant. After further training and administrative duties in Egypt, he sailed for France on 4 June, disembarking at Marseilles on 11 June to begin service on the Western Front.

On 3 March 1917 he was placed on the supernumerary list and detached to the Pioneer Training Battalion, marching into Larkhill from France on 11 March. On 12 May he was sent on command to the Pioneer School at Reading for specialist training, remaining on instructional duties until 1 November 1917, when he was detached with permanent cadre status for England. In September he returned overseas, marching in from Train Reinforcements at Havre on 8 September, and rejoined the 4th Pioneer Battalion in the field on 22 September.

His reliability was recognised on 20 December 1917 with promotion to Company Quartermaster Sergeant (later recorded as Company Sergeant Major). Early in 1918 he contracted influenza and was hospitalised at Rouen before evacuation to England. His health continued to decline, and in May 1918 he was returned to Australia for discharge on medical grounds, his condition recorded as ‘debility’. His service formally ended on 17 May 1918.

Following his return, he is recorded as living in Cloncurry, working as a miner or labourer. In December 1926, Edward married Ellen Annie Clair (formerly Anderson) in Mount Isa, Queensland. Ellen had been widowed the previous year and had children from her earlier marriage, but she and Edward had no children together. Ellen died in July 1941. Cloncurry remained his home for the rest of his life.

CQMS Edward Gordon William Leader died on 7 January 1961, aged 81, and was buried two days later in Anzac Portion 9, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity and dignity have now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget.