SAPPER LEONARD ALOYSIUS JOSEPH LAVIN
6938 – 2nd Tunnelling Company / Aust Postal Corps
Leonard Aloysius Joseph Lavin was born in Roma, Queensland on January 1, 1893 the son of Michael Leonard and Ellen (nee Short) Lavin. He received his education at State and Christian Brothers schools to 6th Class and had no athletic record or military training. In 1917 he was a clerk and letter sorter residing at William Street, Brisbane.
At the Recruiting Depot in Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Qld on October 19, 1916 the twenty-three year old postal assistant was medically examined and approved fit for active service abroad. The recruiting officer accepted his Application and forms of Attestation were completed. Details show he was 172cms (5ft 8½ins) tall, weighed 63.6kgs (140lbs) with a chest expansion of 82-88cms (32½-34½ins). Complexion was fair and his blue eyes tested to good vision and fair hair. Roman Catholic was his religion. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Ellen Lavin of Carlton Hill, Gympie, Qld and later changed to his father Michael Leonard Lavin of the same address. He was sworn in the same day.
Private Lavin received basic training at Enoggera camp, Brisbane with ‘C Coy’ 11th Depot Battalion from October 27 until November 27, 1916 and received dental treatment during this period. Four days paid Home Leave was granted to visit his parents in Gympie from November 15 to November 21. On his return trained with the Reserve Reinforcements until January 10, 1917. The next day was allotted to the 9th Reinforcement to the 4th Pioneer Battalion concluding on January 29 before being transferred to the Miners’ Corps. Relocation was to the Miners’ training camp at Seymour, Victoria from February 3 onwards for further instruction as a member of February, 1917 Reinforcements until February 27, 1917. Final training was completed with the Tunnelling Company on May 11, 1917. His regimental number was 6938 in the rank of Sapper. In preparation for departure his Will was noted to be lodged with the Public Curator, Brisbane.
The transport HMAT A9 Shropshire embarked from Melbourne, Vic on May 11, 1917 with 168 members of the February Reinforcements on board. Sapper Lavin left Australian waters from Fremantle harbour and after crossing the Indian Ocean the ship docked at Durban, South Africa. Next Port-of-call was Capetown to refuel about June 21, followed by another stopover at an unrecorded harbour would have completed the trip-sheet. After being at sea for 70 days the voyage terminated at Plymouth, England on July 19, 1917. The three officers and 165 other ranks were detrained to Tidworth while two were hospitalised at Plymouth and marched into Nos. 1 and 3 Details camps at Parkhouse.
The Reinforcements departed Southampton for France on August 18, 1917 arriving at the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles the next day. On September 2 Sapper Lavin was attached to the 2nd Tunnelling Company and taken on strength in the field four days later.
He was issued for twelve months service with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform.
Leave was granted from March 6, 1918 but two days later he was admitted to the 1st Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield with laryngitis. A Statement of Case is as follows:
Disease:Gassed. Laryngitis on leave from France
Gassed 27th Feb, 1918. Not admitted to hospital. Base ? but has not lost
his voice. Went on leave on 4/3/18 reported sick at St Quirk, loss of voice,
pain in right side, sent on leave with diagnosis of Laryngitis & pain in right
side in mid ancillary line. Weak and anaemic. Pleuritic pain in right side.
Will leave on Boron phase for Laryngitis condition.
After 19 days he was discharged on March 27, completed his leave and instructed to proceed overseas to France and rejoined his unit ten days later.
The following disciplinary action was given when he returned:
Crime:Boulogne, when returning from leave without authorised pass 9.4.18
Award:10 days F.P. No. 2 by C.O. 2nd Tun Coy. 18/4/18
He was attached for duty in the field with the 283rd Siege Battery on June 10, 1918 then transferred to the Aust Postal Corps on June 26, 1918 and taken on strength the same day. Attached the following day to the 10th Infantry Brigade Headquarters Field Post Office he remained until detached on October 27 and reattached to the 3rd Division Training F.P.O.
Private Lavin was with this unit when peace was declared and the unit remained as part of the Army of Occupation. On February 25, 1919 he was detached from the 3rd Division Training F.P.O. and attached to the 5th Division Rail Head F.P.O. until March 19, 1919 when he returned to the 3rd Div. Training for orders and was attached the same day to the 22nd Company A.A.S.C. until April 7.
On April 9, 1919 he took leave to Paris rejoining at the end of the month on April 30 and returned to the 2nd Aust Division.
Orders were received on May 19, 1919 to return to the A.D.B.1. for demobilisation to England with Quota 55 and marched out to England on May 20, 1919. After crossing the English Channel disembarked at Southampton and marched into the No. 2 Group camp a day later.
Private Lavin departed England on the H.T. Persic on July 13, 1919 for the voyage to Australia.
He cabled before his departure and the news was printed in The Brisbane Courier on Tuesday July 29, 1919:
His next-of-kin were officially advised by Base Records on August 1, 1919 of his impending return. The vessel docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on September 2, 1919.
At the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point the following day he was examined by the medical board where he declared he had no disability as a result of his war service and the Board recommended to demobilise. Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on October 3, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. The British War Medal (29013) and the Victory Medal (27700) were issued to Sapper 6938 Leonard Aloysius Joseph Lavin, 2nd Tunnelling Company / Aust Postal Corps for serving his country.
He returned to his job as a postal assistant and in 1925 his address was Gaynor’s, James Street, Toowoomba then was living at the Freemason’s Hotel in 1930. In 1936 he had been transferred to Cairns and resided at the Commercial Hotel. Advice of the recent local transfers was published in the Cairns Post on Thursday February 25, 1937:
The Seariff Hotel in Rockhampton was home during his appointment there. In 1943 he was a mail officer living at the Albert Hotel, King George Square, Brisbane and by 1949 was back in Toowoomba as a mail overseer residing at the Metropole Hotel in Ruthven Street. The Grand Hotel in Mary Street, Brisbane was his abode in 1954.
Leonard Aloysius Lavin passed away on February 15, 1955 aged 62 years. The Funeral Notice was published in The Courier-Mail on Thursday February 17, 1955:
In monumental Portion 11 of Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane his shared headstone can be located within Section 15 at Grave no. 33.
© Donna Baldey 2012