LEUNIG, James Henry Patrick
| Service Number: | 1701 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, June 1894 |
| Home Town: | Bowden, Charles Sturt, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Currie Street Observation School |
| Occupation: | Plasterer |
| Died: | Died of Illness (nephritis), France, 10 September 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension IV E 20 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide St Patrick's Parish Honor Board, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Woodside District of Onkaparinga Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1701, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1701, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Apr 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1701, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Port Lincoln, Adelaide | |
| 10 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
James Henry Patrick Leunig
Name: James Henry Patrick Leunig
Service Number: 1701 Lieut
Place of Birth: Adelaide
Date of Birth: Not available
Place of Enlistment: Oaklands
Date of Enlistment: 4 January 1915
Age at Enlistment: 20 years 7 months
Next of Kin: Mother, Ellen Leunig
Occupation: Plasterer
Religion: Roman Catholic
Rank: Sergeant
James left Adelaide on the A17 Port Lincoln on 1 April 1915 arriving at Gallipoli on 2 August. He was appointed a Corporal on 24 November and was promoted to Sergeant while serving in Egypt on 22 March 1916. James was hospitalised at Gallipoli on 10 December 1915 with hematuria and was treated in May 1918 for pyrexia of the arm. The latter arm ailment led to James being sent to the 2nd Stationary Hospital at Abbeville in September.
James was awarded the DCM in France on 3 September 1918, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Regardless of personal risk he got into a very exposed position where he was subjected to heavy machine gun fire, and most successfully bombed the enemy as they came down a communication trench. His very gallant conduct contributed greatly to the defeat of the enemy, and his consistent personal courage throughout was an example to all about him.”
Sergeant Leunig died of nephritis on 11 September 1918 and was buried at Abbeville Cemetery in France. His personal effects were sent to his mother on 30 September.
Submitted 26 October 2023 by christopher collins
Biography contributed by Robert Kearney
Second-Lieutenant J. H. LEUNIG. D.C.M., of the 16th Battalion, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Leunig, of Second and Drayton streets, Bowden, died on September 10, of nephritis, at the 8th General Hospital.
His brother, 4839 Sgt. George Leunig (/explore/people/264390) of the 5th Pioneer Battalion AIF died of wounds on 18 September 1917
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