Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leo Matson Bilney, was born at Kalangadoo, SA on the 14th October 1907, being the eleventh child of fifteen to parents Henry and Coral.

Leo attended the Kalangadoo Primary School from January 1915 to February 1922.

His childhood spent living on Eliza Street where the family ran their blacksmith business.

In the late twenties Leo stayed with his sister at Marylands (Adelaide) whilst he completed an apprenticeship in Duco (respraying cars).

During this time Leo trained Tuesday and Thursday nights with Norwood Football Club. Although wooed by the Redlegs he did not play a game for them.

Upon return to Kalangadoo Leo continued with his passion for Duco at Fred’s Garage and also dabbling in Plumbing.

Leo met his wife Dulcie Humphries from Tantanoola who was working / living with her sister at Koorine. They were married on the 30th May 1936.

April 1938 Leo & Dulcie had their first child Don, residing in the family home in Eliza Street, Kalangadoo.

Craftsman Leo Bilney reported for duty at Woodville, South Australia, (48th Battalion, 4th Military District) on the 17th February 1942.

Training for active service as part of the 50th District Ord Workshop, 128 Australian Brigade Workshop A.E.M.E.

On the 6th July 1942 he was transferred from the 128 Australian Brigade Workshop to the 129 Australian Brigade Workshop and embarked for overseas active service on the ‘Henry T Allen’ from Brisbane on the 16th July 1943.

Craftsman Bilney arrived at Port Moresby on the 20th July 1943. Upon arrival the 129 Australian Brigade workshop were attached to the 3rd Infantry Division and worked with the 15th Infantry Brigade Group.

The unit moved with the brigade to Dumpu in January 1944 to relive the units of the 7th Infantry Division final stages of the Ramu Valley Campaign.

After its capture, the 129 brigade workshop left for Lae in April 1944 where it worked until August 1944 when they re-joined the 15th Infantry Brigade Group at in Mapee, Queensland.

In late 1944, Australian units were tasked to relieve the remaining US troops in New Guinea with the 2nd Australian Corps to relieve the 14th US Corps on Bougainville.

However Craftsman Bilney accidently injured his right ankle and fractured his right tibula in November 1944 and was unable to rejoin his unit in Bouganville until the 26th of February 1945.

The 3rd Infantry Division advanced south towards the Japanese base at Buin and the 129 Brigade Workshop moved to Torokina, New Guinea, with 15 Infantry Brigade group.

They moved forward to rejoin the brigade at Hiru Hiru in June 1945 and to Hari in July where they operated until the end of the war.

Meanwhile back in Australia, Dulcie gave birth to their second child, daughter Glennys Faye in July 1945.

Craftsman Leo Bilney was discharged on the 9th of January 1946. He had completed 1402 days service including 692 days active service overseas.

Craftsman Leo Bilney was awarded the following War Medals.
1939/45 Star
Pacific Star
War Medal
Australian War Medal

Upon returned to Kalangadoo in 1946 Leo and his brother built a house on South West Terrace (currently owned by Ben Opie) for his wife and growing family. Leo and Dulcie had their third child Robin in January 1947, the story goes, that Leo was playing cricket at the time Dulcie went into labour, Leo not wanting to let the side down “flew” up to Penola for the birth and returning to Kalangadoo immediately afterwards to continue playing.

Leo ran a small tinsmith business, where he and his nephew Lyal Huppatz made rainwater tanks for the Soldier Settlement areas, many of which are still standing today.

The young family lived in South West Terrace for three years until Leo was granted a soldiers settlers block section 839 of 356 acres, on Settlers Road at Mount Schank.

At the time of selling the Kalangadoo home it recorded a record sale along with land that Leo owned. This being the block of land surrounding us here at the cemetery.

Leo named the Mount Schank property ‘Schandale’ where he attended to his dairy. 1959 saw the devasting Kongorong Fires roar through the area, at a time when they were just beginning to be established, after overcoming issues with the size of the blocks, soil quality, with considerable amount of stone close to the surface, which made fencing difficult, bracken and thistles. A lot of calves and young stock died as a result of bracken poisoning over the years.

On the day of the fires Leo returned just in time to save the family home. His Kalangadoo RSL comrades came out to help rebuild the fences that were lost. Coincidently his neighbour was a member of the Dowdell family, being Roy’s sister Eileen, who the Kalangadoo Ex-Servicemen also assisted in their time of need.

Leo was a keen sportsman, and actively involved on committees for cricket, football and Golf.

Leo Matson Bilney passed away on the June 1972 aged 64 years. He is interred at the Carinya Gardens Cemetery, Mount Gambier.