George Robert LEONARD

LEONARD, George Robert

Service Number: SX588
Enlisted: 23 October 1939
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 4 Garrison Battalion (SA)
Born: Adelaide, South Australia, 31 July 1908
Home Town: Kensington, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Adelaide Repat Hospital, South Australia, 21 March 1982, aged 73 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia
Memorials: City of Kensington & Norwood Honour Roll World War II Book and Case
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World War 2 Service

23 Oct 1939: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX588, 2nd/10th Infantry Battalion
4 Aug 1944: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX588, 4 Garrison Battalion (SA)

george Robert Leonard's Story

George Robert Leonard, Army Number SX588
George was born on the 30th of July 1908 in Adelaide; George was the eighth child of nine born to George and Rebeca Leonard. His father work as an engineer at the Barossa gold fields. George was married three times and was regularly before the courts, all his work history has him working as a labourer. His service records had George’s height as 5 foot 8 inches weighing 11 stone 6 pound, a fit 172 cm and 72 kg. George enlisted in the voluntary militia forces 43rd battalion, later becoming the 48th battalion, at various times between 1926 when he was 18 years old and 1938.
George enlisted in the Australian Army on the 23rd of October 1939 at Keswick, Adelaide at the age of 31 years and 3 months, he was appointed to the 2/10 battalion 2nd AIF, at this time he was noted as single (divorced), unemployed and living at Kensington. He later changed next of kin from his father (George) to his wife, Tryphena Ellen Leonard.
Once enlisted the 2/10 Battalion did training at woodside in the Adelaide hills then at Greta and Ingleburn in New South Wales. They embarked on the HMT Mauretania in Sydney on the 5 May 1940 for the middle east but were diverted to Gourock, Scotland when France fell. They were based at Lopcombe Corner in England and then Colchester. While in the UK George was AWL on three occasions receiving a total of 21 days confined to barracks.
Embarked on the HMT Strathaird. 14 Nov 1940 for the middle east (Egypt), due to the dangers in the Mediterranean they travelled via South Africa and the Suez canal arriving at Egypt on the 31 December 1940 to become part of the 9th division. From April 1940 to Augusta the 2/10 battalion with George defended the Port of Tobruk. When evacuated from Tobruk the 2/10 was based in Syria for training and garrison duties.
When the Japanese attached Pearl Harbor the 2/10 was returned to Australia embarking on February 1942 arriving in Adelaide March 1942 via a stop over at Bombay. After leave and further training the 2/10 was embarked 6 Augusta 1942 for Milne Bay, arriving on the 12 August 1942. Between 28 September and 7 August, the 2/10th with the 2/9th and 2/12th stopped the Japanese from capturing the airfield, the 2/10 sustained significant casualties when a portion of the Battalion's position was penetrated and cut off by the Japanese.
In October the 2/10 was flown to northern New Guinea, Wanigela, to patrol the coast and prepare to defend the coast from a possible Japanese landing. On the 15 December 1942 George was evacuated to the 10 Australian CCS, Causality Clearing Station, and then to the hospital ship returning to Australia with Malaria. George never returned to his unit suffering several relapses with malaria and several more indiscretion before being discharged medically unfit on the 4 August 1944.
On his discharge he divorced his second wife and married a third and final time, he died on the 21 March 1982 at the Adelaide Repat Hospital leaving a wife and estranged daughter.

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