LEETCH, Frederick William
| Service Number: | 286 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | 1875, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Officer Native Constabulary, Mining Warden, Magistrate |
| Died: | Died at the Samarai Hospital, British New Guinea, Samarai, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, 21 February 1903 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Corporal, 286, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 286, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 5 Jan 1902: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 2 p. 133, notes promoted to Acting Sergeant 5 Jan 1902. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 286, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When Frederick William Leetch enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his brother A. Leetch, Samarai, New Guinea. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 2 p. 133, it is noted his address following discharge in Aug 1902 was care of A. G. Leetch, Samarai, New Guinea.
He returned to Samarai, New Guinea, after discharge where, it was reported in The Queenslander, 19 Jan 1903, he was appointed to a number of public service positions including; resident magistrate, mining warden; magistrate for native affairs; European officer of the native armed constabulary; and an inspector under the Native Labour Ordinance.
Not long after that report his death on 21 Feb 1903 at the Samarai Hospital was reported in The Queenslander, 21 Mar 1903. His death notice noted he was in his 28th year; had previously served as a Sergeant in the 5th QIB; and he was the son of the late Major Leetch (late 4th Queen's Own Hussars).
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 499; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 2 p. 133; newspaper articles, see links).
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