Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Graham Holland Leaver was born at Gilberton, South Australia, on the 5th September 1896, the son of Edward leaver and Lucia Rosalie Holland. He was known as "Mage" within his family.

His siblings were Joseph (b 1895, d 1926), Angus Paul (b 1901), Edward (b 1905) and Marjorie (1908).

Edward Leaver was the managing director of Leaver Bros Pty Ltd, hat manufacturers. He was vice-president of the Chamber of Manufactures (1908). Edward was a trustee for the debenture holders of the Kooyonga Golf Club and for several years he was president and captain of the club.

The family resided at Park Road, Kensington Park.

Schooling

Graham probably commenced his schooling in the Kensington Park area. He attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide from 1908 to 1914. In 1908 Graham was in Form IV at St Peter’s and he was awarded the ‘Latin set ix’ prize.

Graham passed the Primary Examinations (English, Arithmetic, Latin, French, Algebra and Geometry) in October 1910 and the Junior Examinations (Latin (credit), French, Arithmetic, Algebra (credit), geometry (credit), Physics and Inorganic Chemistry) in December 1911.

In 1912 Graham undertook the Senior Examinations and he came 23rd on the General Honours List. He passed Modern History, Latin, French, Arithmetic and Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry (credit) and Physics. In December 1913 Graham passed Higher Pubic Examinations in French, Algebra and Trigonometry, Geometry and Trigonometry and Physics. He was awarded Government Bursaries in December 1913 and December 1914.

Graham was 6th on the General Honours List for the Higher Public Examinations in December 1914, placing first in Algebra and Trigonometry (credit) and passing Geometry and Trigonometry, Applied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

On the sporting front, Graham played cricket for Clayton Institute in the Church Association competition in the 1912/13 season.

At the St Peter’s College Sports in August 1909 Graham won the 120 yards Flat handicap (under 13 years) and in April 1914 he was second in the 100 yards Flat handicap and first in the 440 yards Flat Handicap.

He played cricket for St Peter’s College in the South Australian Cricket Association B Grade competition in the first half of the 1914/15 season, scoring 63 in an innings against East Torrens in November 1914. Graham was a member of the St Peter’s College Inter-collegiate cricket team which played Prince Alfred College in December 1914.

University

Graham commenced studying toward a Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) in 1915. He passed the Senior Public Examination in English Literature in March 1915 and the Adelaide School of Arts Examinations in Intermediate Freehand in June 1915. He did not complete his first year as he enlisted to serve in WWI.

University Sport

Cricket

In the second half of the 1914/15 cricket season, Graham represented the Adelaide University Cricket Club in the SACA B Grade competition.

Football

Graham played football for the Adelaide University Football Club “B Grade” in the Adelaide Students’ Association. He appeared in the Best Players on at least one occasion.

World War I

Graham enlisted on the 2nd August 1915, aged 18 years and 9 months. He was 5’5¾”, 163 lbs, with a medium complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. Graham had been a Cadet for three years while at St Peter’s College and was a member of the 78th Infantry (Citizens Forces). He enlisted with the permission of both his parents.

Leonard’s service in WWI is well described in the extract from Robert Kearney's 'Fallen Saints', published in April 2015 and reproduced on the Virtual War Memorial Australia (see below).

From the book Fallen Saints

Graham Holland Leaver of Kensington Park was born at Walkerville South Australia in September 1896. While at the School, he proved to be a fine student, an active member of the senior cadets for three years and a good sportsman who represented the School in inter-collegiate games.

These few lines, which appeared in an Adelaide newspaper on 13 October 1917, tell more about his sporting prowess.

Letters received recently mentioned that at the Australian sports held in France he was successful in the 120 and 220 yards Sheffield championships, in addition to the quick-firing competition. [i]

After leaving school he studied mine engineering at Adelaide University and when he enlisted at Keswick on 2 August 1915, was a serving member of the 78th Infantry.

While in transit at the Exhibition Camp, Adelaide he was made a provisional corporal and after successfully completing an NCO Course at Mitcham Camp in August, joined the 6th quota of reinforcements for the 27th Battalion as an acting sergeant.

He sailed from Adelaide aboard the HMAT Benalla on 27 October and after reaching Egypt was transferred to the 10th Battalion at Serapeum at the end of February 1916. As was the case for most men with provisional rank, he reverted to his substantive rank on the day he joined the battalion.

Private Leaver proceeded to France with his unit aboard HMT Saxonia on 27 March 1916.

On 16 August, while the 10th Battalion were resting at Vadencourt Wood after Pozières, Private Leaver was sent to the School of Instruction at 1st Division’s Base Depot, Étaples.
In early October 1916, he joined No 4 Officer Cadet Battalion at Oxford, England and after graduating in January was attached to AIF HQ in London as a second lieutenant. Following ten days furlough in London he returned to France where he returned to the 10th Battalion. He was promoted to Lieutenant at the beginning of June and later that month he attended 5th Army Sniping School and returned to the battalion on 8 July.

Lieutenant Leaver, was a platoon commander in one of two specially trained Storm Companies formed by the CO, Lieutenant Colonel Wilder-Neligan DSO, DCM, and so when the battalion encountered a pillbox on the morning of 20 September, he ordered Leaver to take his platoon forward and deal with it. With a brave German machine-gunner holding up the advance by raking the front of the 11th Battalion swift action needed to be taken so Lieutenant Leaver quickly got around behind the pillbox and was almost at the machine gun when a German with a revolver shot him in the head; only a fortnight earlier Lieutenant Leaver celebrated his 21st birthday.

Corporal Hodge of the 11th Battalion rushed forward, shot the man with the revolver, captured the gun, and for his courageous action, later received the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

[i] Adelaide Chronicle, 13 October 1917, p. 40

Death

Graham Holland Leaver was killed in action in Polygon Wood, near Ypres, Belgium on the 20th September 1917 (during the Battle of Menin Road). He was just 21 years of age. He left an estate values at £625.

Graham was buried and Map Reference J.14.b.0.8 and a cross marked his grave, however on the 3rd April 1919 he was re-buried at the Hooge Crater Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium. His headstone bears the inscription:
"Son of Edward and Lucia Lever Adelaide
Through trials to glory"

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy, Janne Filmer & Kym Beilby) please see the document attached or the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at
https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25716

Extract from the Adelaide University Football Club and Adelaide University Cricket Club document honouring "The Fallen" Anzac Day 2015.

Graham played for AUFC in 1915 and for AUCC for the 1914/1915 season. He was an Applied Science Student.

Graham enlisted on 2nd August 1915 as a member of the 6th reinforcements of the 27th Battalion and was transferred to the 10th Battalion on 28th February 1916. After attending the Officers Cadet Battalion he was finally commissioned and joined the 10th Battalion in France in February 1917. On 20th September 1917 during the Battle of Polygon Wood, the 10th Battalion’s advance was held up by a strong post holding 50 Germans and 3 machine guns. Graham was sent forward to aid members of the 11th Battalion in clearing this post but was killed. After the post was captured there were 40 dead enemy found in and around the post. Graham was buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery.