S11724
LEANE, William Ernest Raymond
| Service Number: | 374 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 January 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Lincoln, South Australia, 12 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | North Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, Klemzig, South Australia, 24 August 1964, aged 67 years |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: KO, Road: 23A, Site No: 64 |
| Memorials: | Nailsworth Primary School Great War Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 374, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 374, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 374, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 4 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 374, 27th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 26 May 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 374, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
William Ernest Raymond Leane was born on the 12th of July 1897 in Port Lincoln, South Australia. He lived in North Adelaide along with his father, Ernest A. Leane. William Leane and his family were followers of the Church of Christ, and Leane was a plumber by trade. On 26 January 1915, at the age of 19, Leane went to Keswick, South Australia, and enlisted as part of the Australian Imperial Forces.
Leane had previously been a part of the 19th Infantry Battalion in South Australia, but started in the 27th Infantry Battalion when he became a fighting member of The Great War. On the 29th September 1915, Leane was hospitalized in Malta for abdominal pain which was then diagnosed as enteritis. Meanwhile, his Battalion was sent to Gallipoli, where they fought until December when the campaign was concluded. His service record suggests that he remained in hospital for a few months and was discharged back to his unit in February of 1916 joining them in Egypt. In March 1916 he went to England and was hospitalised again, this time with VD and was forfeited 8 days pay as a punishment.
On 15 October 1916, Leane transferred to the 32nd Infantry Battalion. He was admitted to hospital on the 21st December 1916 for 12 days due to bronchitis. He recovered and returned to his unit.
On the 14th of April 1917, Leane was absent from roll without leave. This endeavour was sent to the district court where Leane pleaded innocent. He was found guilty on the charges and awaited trial for 38 days in detention. During his trial Leane was sentenced to 120 days in detention, resulting in a total of 158 days.
In October of 1917, Leane was moved to France to serve. He was promoted to Corporal on the 12th of February 1918 and fought with his battalion in the Battle of Amiens in August of 1918. Leane was detached from duty in October that year before re-joining and embarking to England to continue to serve in early 1919.
On the 14th of August 1919, Leane got married to Lillian Leane, née Musselwhite, in London. Leane was on leave during that time and returned to serve in September that year. On 14 November 1919, Leane was promoted to Sergeant, which remained his highest ranking throughout his time serving.
Leane was discharged on May 26, 1920. He moved back to South Australia with his wife, where they remained married for six years. In late 1926, Lillian Leane accused her husband of having affairs and requested a divorce, which was eventually granted by the court. Before Leane died, he married Eleanor Blanche Leane, whom he stayed with for the rest of his life.
William Ernest Raymond Leane died on the 24th of August 1964 of natural causes. He died in Adelaide, and he remains buried in the AIF West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide, South Australia.
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