JANNUM, Leo Oscar Uhrbrand
| Service Number: | QX3046 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 November 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 9 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Ipswich Queensland Australia , 27 August 1913 |
| Home Town: | Ipswich, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Ipswich Grammar School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Papua New, 18 December 1942, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea Plot B7. Row A. Grave 21. Local Roll of Honour - Ipswich Queensland |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ipswich Grammar School WW2 Roll of Honour, Ipswich Soldier's Memorial Hall WW2, Kingaroy RSL Roll of Honour, Kingaroy Stone of Remembrance, Wooroolin West State School Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, QX3046 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov 1939: | Enlisted | |
| 3 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, QX3046, 2nd/9th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Dec 1942: | Discharged | |
| 18 Dec 1942: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, QX3046, 9 Infantry Battalion AMF, Buna / Gona / Sanananda "The Battle of the Beachheads" - Papua |
JANNUM LEO OSCAR UHRBRAND : Service Number - QX3046 : Date of birth - 27 Aug 1913 : Place of birth - IPSWICH QLD
Leo Jannum was a school teacher at Wooroolin West School for 3 years from 1936 and is recorded on the school honour Board. This board is now located at the Wooroolin State School.
Leo was born in 1913, the child of Kristen and Petra Jannum who emigrated from Denmark in 1900. Leo studied at Ipswich Grammar School and taught at Texas State School before moving to Wooroolin West in 1936.
Leo enlisted in the AIF on 3 Nov 1939 at Redbank in the 2/9th Infantry Battalion and embarked for overseas in Jun 1940. Leo Jannum is mentioned by Gordon Moore in the Wooroolin School Centenary book on page 38. “Leo Jannum, QX3046 , after returning from England and conflict in the Middle East was killed on 18 Dec 1942 fighting the Japanese at Buna, New Guinea. His sister and brother-in-law, M & N Bolton of Brisbane Rd, East Ipswich placed in their local paper,
Duty called him, he was there,
To do his bit, to do his share,
His Heart was true, his spirit brave,
He’s resting now in a hero’s grave.
He followed the path of duty.
He answered his country’s call.
He died an Australian hero.
The grandest death of all.
Leo is also mentioned on page 36 of same book by Eric Radunz who says: Leo Jannum taught at Wooroolin West School from 1936 to 1939 with attendance varying from 16 to 20 students. In 1936 three children were removed from the school and taught by correspondence and on 2nd September. Mr Jannum also noted that the District Works Inspector had called at the school during October to examine the state of the boys’ lavatory but nothing had yet been done to alleviate the situation by December. Iris Jones continued under Mr Jannum and wrote “Our school days started first with raising the flag. When the bell rang, we lined up on the parade ground and saluted the flag. Then we would march up into the school and stand in our places until told to sit down.”
Leo was Killed in Action at Cape Endaidere, Papua on and is buried at BOMANA War Cemetery, PAPUA; Grave No: B7. A. 21
Leo Oscar Uhrbrand Jannum's name is located at panel 33 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. Leo is also remembered on the Ipswich Soldier's Memorial Hall WW2, Kingaroy RSL Roll of Honour, Kingaroy Stone of Remembrance and Wooroolin West State School Roll of Honour.
Lest We Forget
Submitted 5 February 2023 by Carol Berry
Click images to start slideshow.