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War Memorial
Australia

MUIRHEAD Leonard Graham MB BS

1887-1964

Leonard Graham Muirhead was born, on 19th April 1887, in Adelaide.  He was the son of Graham David Muirhead and Eliza Helen nee Hogg. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1911. He was a house surgeon and physician at the Adelaide Hospital 1911 to 1912 and subsequently went into practice at Grange, South Australia. During WW1, Muirhead began a Citizens Naval Forces posting as acting District Naval Medical Officer at Port Adelaide in July 1915. He replaced Edward Walter Morris who was deployed on 27th April 1915. Muirhead was relieved of his duties when Morris returned to the position by April 1917. Muirhead then enlisted in the Army, in April 1917, and served in England and France with the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company. His appointment was terminated in January 1919. Muirhead married Freda Mary Chinner on 3rd March 1923.  She was the daughter of Hubert George Williams Chinner and Mary Ellen, nee Grasby of Glenburnie, Upper Mitcham. They were to have two daughters.

Muirhead enlisted again in WW2, on 12th February 1942, and served at the Loveday Prisoner of War camp. There is no further information on his war service.  Leonard Graham Muirhead died on 2nd January 1964 and is buried in Centennial Park. His wife Freda and two daughters survived him.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD

Additional information to 

Blood Sweat and Fears 111. Medical Practitioners who served in WW2. Open Books Howden, Adelaide. 2019

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers.

Muirhead applied for a commission in the AIF in April 1917.  He was 30 years old, single 5ft 8ins tall, and weighed 10st 4lbs. He had slight knowledge of French, and noted his next of kin as Graham David Muirhead of Grange, Adelaide. He was recommended for general duties and embarked from Melbourne on the Ascanius on 11th May 1917 to England and then to France on 15th October 1917 to the 1st Aust Tunnelling Company for a year then to No 3 AAH. Muirhead returned to Australia in November 1918 with his appointment in the AIF terminated on 29th January 1919 owing to the cessation of hostilities. He was issued with the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Muirhead became engaged to Freda Mary Chinner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Chinner, of Glenburnie, Upper Mitcham in October 1922.  They married on 3rd March 1923. The couple lived at 1 Crosbie St, Brighton and 9 Sturt Place, Beaumont. Muirhead enlisted again in WW2 on 12th February 1942, and served at the Loveday Prisoner of War camp. Leonard Graham Muirhead died on 2nd January 1964 and is buried in Centennial Park. He was survived by his wife Freda who died in 1988 when she was 88 years old.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1. 

Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD