Sapper Lawford Howard Leach

SAPPER LAWFORD HOWARD LEACH 385 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company

North Sydney, New South Wales was the birthplace of Lawford Howard Leach in 1894 the son of Howard Robert and Ida (nee Lunn) Leach. Military experience was gained from three years with the 5th Aust Garrison Artillery. An apprenticeship of four and a half years was served as an electrical mechanic with the firm of Stanton Cook & Company in Sydney.

At twenty-one years of age on January 19, 1916 Howard applied to enlist for active service at the recruiting depot in Sydney. Passing the medical examination Attestation papers were completed on January 24, 1916 describing him as 178cms (5ft 10ins) tall, weighing 64.5kgs (142lbs) with a chest expansion of 79-88cms (31-34½ins). Complexion was medium with grey eyes that tested to good vision and had dark brown hair. Church of England was his religion. Next-of-kin was his father Howard Robert Leach of 3 Central Street, Sydney. The ‘Oath of Allegiance’ was signed and taken the same day at Casula camp, Liverpool, near Sydney.

Assigned the same day to the 1st Reinforcements to the Mining Corps who were in their last stages of establishment at Casula camp; his rank was Sapper with the regimental number 385.

At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.

The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.

Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.

Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.

On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.

The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.

The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.

Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the ship was reluctant to take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck. A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.

With civil qualifications of electrical mechanic his skills would benefit the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was transferred to the company and taken on strength on September 30, 1916.

Service continued without incident and he was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for twelve months abroad.

On March 23, 1918 Sapper Leach was counted in an audit of the company.

He went to the 47th Field Ambulance on October 12, 1918 and admitted with N.Y.D. (not diagnosed yet) Cystitis (infection of bladder) then transferred to the 6th Casualty Clearing Station entering with an infection of the bladder. Three days later on October 15 was sent to the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport before moving to the 1st Aust Convalescent Depot at Havre on November 1. The next day was admitted and noted to have had Haematuria (blood in urine due to infection of bladder) to recuperate. He was there when Peace was declared remaining until discharged to the Aust General Base Depot at Rouelles on December 6, 1918.

Leave was granted to the United Kingdom by the Furlough Department from December 23 and returned on January 6, 1919.

Promoted to Temporary Corporal on March 1, 1919 while carrying out duties at the Aust Base Depot 2 in Havre until June 6, 1919 when it was time to return to England. The next day crossed the English Channel to Southampton and proceeded on draft to the No. 2 Group at Sutton Veny camp reverting to rank to Sapper.

He boarded the H.T. Ulysses on July 22, 1919 for the voyage to Australia. His father was notified by Base Records on August 22, 1919 that his son was on his way home. The ship arrived in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on September 5, 1919.

Sydney Morning Herald Thursday September 4, 1919: THE ULYSSES Troops by the Ulysses will arrive tomorrow morning. Relatives and friends who have tickets marked “Ulysses” from the Staff Officer for Invalids will be admitted to the Anzac Buffet at 9 a.m. Queenslander will proceed to Brisbane by special train at 11.25 a.m. Motor cars numbered on the Red Cross register from 529 to 427, also 1 to 8 are requested to be at Brown’s wharf, Woolloomooloo, at 9.15 a.m.

Sydney Morning Herald Saturday September 6, 1919: THE ULYSSES MORE RETURNED SOLDIERS Wet weather to some extent spoilt the reception of the 770 returned soldiers for this State who landed yesterday morning from the Ulysses.

Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on October 10, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.

The British War Medal (37134) and the Victory Medal (36542) were issued to Sapper 385 Lawford Howard Leach, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company for serving his country. In 1922 he married Leonora Agnes Dutton with their marriage registered at Mosman, Sydney.

They were residing at 3 Iredale Avenue, Neutral Bay with his occupation of electrical mechanic in 1930. Three years later were at 18 Murdoch Street, Narrabeen and in 1943 were living at 10 Reid Street, Neutral Bay which remained their home until 1963.

Lawford Howard Leach passed away aged 78 years at the Royal General Hospital in Concord, Sydney on February 6, 1973. Family arrangements were published in the:

Sydney Morning Herald February 7, 1973: DEATHS LEACH, Lawford Howard—February 6, 1973, at R.G.H., Concord, late of Prince Street, Mosman, dearly loved husband of Leonora (deceased), loved brother of Dolly, Jack and Betty (deceased), fond brother-in-law of Rosie and dear uncle of Janet and Robert. FUNERALS LEACH—The relatives and friends of the late LAWFORD HOWARD LEACH (formerly of Prince Street, Mosman), are invited to attend his funeral tomorrow (THURSDAY) to be held in the chapel of the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, service commencing at 1.40 p.m. Relatives and friends please assemble at the crematorium at 1.30 p.m. DIGNIFIED FUNERALS 747 4911 FIVEDOCK LAKEMBA 757 2512