LEAHY, Claude Michael
| Service Number: | 2815 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 June 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Mount Gambier, South Australia, 20 February 1891 |
| Home Town: | Yanac, Hindmarsh, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Carrozi Public School, Mt Gambier, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine (including Gaza) D. 20. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2815, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2815, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Malwa embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 27 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2815, 9th Light Horse Regiment, RMS Malwa, Adelaide | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 2815, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Battle of Beersheba, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2815 awm_unit: 9 Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Trooper awm_died_date: 1917-10-31 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
"...2815 Trooper Claude Michael Leahy, of Yanac, Vic, on horseback. A member of 20th Reinforcements, 9th Australian Light horse Regiment, he was killed in action 31 October 1917 and buried at Beersheba, Palestine." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Chris Buckley
Trooper Claude Michael Lehey (Service No:2815) enlisted in the AIF at Keswick, South Australia on 24 June 1915, and was attached to 9th Light Horse Regiment when he embarked with his Unit on 27 July 1916 from Adelaide for Egypt on board RMS Malwa. Trooper Lehey was KiA on 31 October 1917 (AWM; Red Cross Files; Trooper JH Jones) 'In the evening just as the sun was dipping an enemy plane flew over the spot where the 9th was and dropped 3 bombs killing 4 or 5 men, including Leahy who got killed outright'. Trooper Lehey was buried at Beersheeba. Brothers Matthew (aka John; Private; Service No:17217), Arthur (Private; Service No:2849; KiA) and Owen (aka George; Private; Service No:3430) also served in WWI and half brother Hugie (Private; Service No:S20127) served with the ACMF in WWII.
Mick was born in Mt Gambier, South Australia in 1892, fifth of six children of George Francis Lehey (b1859 in Monmouthshire, Wales) and his first wife Phoebe Anne Wells (b1864 in Penola, South Australia). George immigrated with his parents and siblings in 1860, arriving in Port Adelaide on board the Schah Jehan. George (a Tailor) and Phoebe married in 1882 in Mt Gambier, South Australia. The children were raised by relatives/foster carers/Industrial School, and in 1900 Phoebe moved to Perth, WA where she died in 1910. George remarried in 1913 and had another three children.
Mick served a three year apprenticeship with J Pinkerton Butchers in Naracoote, South Australia. He was working in Yanac via Nhill, Victoria in 1915 when he married Ida May Mallis (b1886 at Yanipy via Kaniva, Victoria). Mick and Ida were in South Australia in June 1915 when Mick enlisted in the AIF. Following his death, ida remarried.
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