William Leahy (1893 - 1918)

Born 1893 in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 11 Aug 1918 at about age 25 in Near Framerville, France

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Biography

William Leahy was killed in action in France in 1918. There is a Wikipedia page devoted to him, and he seems to have been a very colourful character. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) in 1917 for actions he conducted during the Second Battle of Bullecourt. His Commanding Officer recommended he receive the medal "for conspicuous gallantry near NOREUIL on 3rd May. Pte LEAHY went forward in the attack against the HINDENBURG LINE as a company bomber. A German machine gun forward of the 1st objective was holding up a considerable section of the advancing troops and inflicting heavy casualties. With an absolute indifference to personal risk or danger Pte LEAHY alone charged the machine gun and throwing Mills bombs at it killed and wounded the enemy crew thus putting the gun out of action, whereupon our troops were able to continue their advance. Pte LEAHY'S extraordinary coolness and courage thus saved a critical situation and saved further casualties to our own troops. His action was in keeping with the highest traditions of bravery.” Unfortunately, this devil-may-care approach to life also had its down side. Both before and after receiving the DCM, William was regularly in trouble, with numerous military convictions between 1916 and 1918 for offences such as Drunkenness, Absence Without Leave, Resisting a Military Escort, Striking a Soldier, “Unproperly Dressed While in Bailleul” and “Wilfull Damage to the Property of a French Civilian”. Even before joining the Army, William had a conviction for Riotous Behaviour, at Culcairn in southern New South Wales.

Sources

• Victoria, Australia birth registration, 1893;
• Citation for UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947;
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Leahy_(Australian_Army_soldier);
• Australian War Memorial: Recommendation for Distinguished Conduct Medal;
• First Australian Imperial Force Service Dossier.
• Private William Leahy, D.C.M., Killed in Action. (1918, September 7). Kilmore Advertiser (Vic. : 1915 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 23, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153072798
• The Kilmore Free Press (1918, February 7). Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 - 1954), p. 2 (MORNING). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59658483