S14882
COSSEY, Leonard Cole
| Service Number: | 16757 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Gawler Council Gawler Men Who Answered the Call WW1 Roll of Honor, Gawler Loyal Gawler Lodge I.O.O.F. M.U. WW1 Honour Board, Richmond West Adelaide Football Club War Veterans Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Feb 1917: | Involvement Private, 16757, Army Medical Corps (AIF), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1917: | Embarked Private, 16757, Army Medical Corps (AIF), HMAT Seang Bee, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 16757, 5th Field Ambulance |
Leonard Cole Cossey
Name: Leonard Cole Cossey
Service Number: 16757
Place of Birth: Norwood
Date of Birth: 22 December 1894
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 2 June 1916
Age at Embarkation: 21
Marital status: Single
Next of Kin: Mother – Mrs. E. L. Cossey, 44 Albert St. Goodwood
Occupation: Porter, S.A. Railways
Religion: Baptist
Rank: Private 5th Field Ambulance
West Adelaide Football Club involvement:
Leonard played 53 games for WAFC from 1914 to 1922 and 2 State games. He made his debut on 11 July 1914. Leonard was described as, “a centre half-back with great speed.”(1.) In 1920 Leonard won the trophy for the Most Improved Player (W.T. Kelly page 48).
Chairman of the club A.A‘Bert’ Edwards records in the Annual report of 1921 when talking of Cossey playing for SA at the carnival in WA, “His marking and kicking in the back lines was a feature of a grand game, and many smart attacks of the "Swans" were turned brilliantly by our crack half-back man.
Recognising that it is not always that players are selected for Carnival honors, your Committee voted an honorarium to each man selected of the sum of £10, as spending silver for their trip, previous to their departure to the Golden West. Your Chairman tendered the whole of the Club complimentary dinner to celebrate the selection of three of our players. Needless to say, the dinner was something the boys will long remember.”
Biographical details:
Leonard was the son of William Joshua Cossey and Emily Lydia Cole. His unit embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A48 Seeang Bee on 10 February 1917 and after 2 weeks of additional training at Parkhouse Camp in England, was sent to France on 26 April, serving with the Australian Army Medical Corps. Leonard was absent without leave from 25 to 28 May and was docked 9 days’ pay. He was stationed at Southampton Training Depot, England from 24 June to 1 September prior to returning to Roulles, France. Leonard was on leave in England from 17 March to 23 March 1918. Being absent without leave again from 1 April to 9 April resulted in forfeiting 37 days’ pay. A bout of influenza necessitated a week in hospital before being able to rejoin his unit at Le Havre, France on 15 June. Using improper language to an Officer on 26 November resulted in another 23 day’s loss of pay.
Yet another instance of being absent without leave in November 1918 led to a further 5 day’s loss of pay and 4 months detention. He was imprisoned at Lewes Detention Barracks from 2 September to 28 November 1919, when his sentence was remitted.
On 26 June 1919, Leonard had married Kitty Shand at Stirling, Scotland. They departed from England on the Runic on 20 December and arrived in Adelaide on 4 February 1920. He was discharged on 5 March 1920. Leonard died on 19 May 1970.
Source: NAA; B2455; Cossey L C; Barcode 3425582.
(1.) W.T. Kelly History of West Adelaide Football Club pg13.
Submitted 20 October 2023 by christopher collins