HORNABROOK, Leonard Charles
| Service Number: | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 September 1914, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Royal Flying Corps |
| Born: | Kapunda, South Australia, 29 October 1895 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College and University of Adelaide |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | Died of Wounds , France , 21 May 1918, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Etaples Military Cemetery XXVIII. L. 4. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide St Mary Magdalene Church Honour Roll, Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hackney St Peter's College Fallen Honour Board, Kapunda District WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1992, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1992, 300th Company Mechanical Transport, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: Incorrectly recorded as Leonard Charles Hornibrook on the original roll. | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 1992, 300th Company Mechanical Transport, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 10 Apr 1917: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps |
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From the book Fallen Saints - Leonard Charles Hornabrook was born at Kapunda, South Australia in October 1895. He was the son of Canon Hornabrook and while at the School served in the junior and senior cadets. After leaving the School he entered Adelaide University at the time of enlistment had already served 16 months in 22 Engineers, Citizens Force. He enlisted at west Wayville, South Australia on 21 September 1914 and was posted as a driver mechanic with the temporary rank of Corporal to the 9th Australian Army Service Corps at Albert Park Victoria. He sailed from Melbourne with 300 (MT) ASC, 17 Divisional Supply Column (9 ASC) aboard HMAT Ceramic on 22 December 1914.
While at Buford Camp, England he was charged and found guilty of being absent without leave 14-16 May 1915 and as punishment received an admonishment from his CO and forfeited three days pay. He reverted to the ranks on 3 June and six days later sailed for France with the 17th Divisional Supply Column aboard SS Golden Eagle. He was appointed lance corporal in the field on 1 January 1916, and regained the rank of Corporal on 3 October.
In 1916, he applied to undergo pilot training and on 6 November was selected to attend training at No 1 RFC Officer Cadet Battalion with a view to being commissioned. [i]
Cadet Leonard Hornabrook and the now famous Charles Kingsford-Smith were among the first 200 men from the AIF to attend an Aeronautics training course; he was discharged from the AIF on 3 March 1917 and gazetted a probationary second lieutenant in the British Army on 16 March.
L. C. Hornabrook, who was transferred to the Flying Corps, has received his commission and wings. [ii]
On 8 July 1917, Second Lieutenant Hornabrook transferred from the Royal Flying Corps to the Leicestershire Regiment and was serving in the 1st/4th Battalion when he was wounded in action and died on 21 May 1918; he was 22 years of age.
The 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was formed on 4 August 1914 at Oxford Street Leicestershire as part of the Lincoln & Leicester Brigade, North Midland Division. The battalion landed at Havre on 3 March and became part of the 138th Brigade, 46th Division on 12 May 1915.
On 21 January 1916 the formation embarked at Marseilles for Egypt but when the move was cancelled disembarked the next day and on 11 November 1918 was located at Sains du Nord, south-east of Avesnes, France. [iii]
Leonard’s brother, Harold Hornabrook (OS) enlisted in the AIF in May 1916 and returned to Australia in 1919.
His uncle, Private Harry Alfred Hornabrook (OS) died of illness in Australia on 10 January 1916.
On May 21 (1919) the Bishop dedicated brass Alter Rails and Choir Stalls given in memory of Leonard Charles Hornabrook, 2nd Lieut. Leicestershire Regiment. [iv]
[i] National Archives of Australia: B 2455, Hornabrook Leonard Charles/ 5831021, viewed 30 May 2006
[ii] St Peter’s School Magazine - W K Thomas & Co, Adelaide, August 1917, p. 36
[iii] James, E A, Historical Records of British Infantry Regiments In the Great War 1914-1918, Rank Xerox Copy Bureau, Birmingham Revised Edition, 1976, p. 50
[iv] St Peter’s School Magazine - W K Thomas & Co, Adelaide, September 1919, p. 6
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