Michael James LEONARD

Regimental number2686
Date of birth28 October 1885
Place of birthYass, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBaker
AddressPritchard Street, Yass, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation31
Height5' 3.5"
Weight120 lbs
Next of kinSister, Mrs Catherine Smith, Pritchard Street, Yass, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date24 January 1916
Place of enlistmentGoulburn, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name55th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/72/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7 October 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll55th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 10 April 1919
Discharge date9 July 1919
Family/military connectionsBrother: 4176A Driver James Valentine LEONARD, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column, returned to Australia, 5 november 1917.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 7 October 1916; found guilty while at sea, of breaking ship breaking ship and being in town without a pass: awarded 96 hours' detention and fined £1.0.0; disembarked Plymouth, England, 21 November 1916.

Found guilty, Hurdcott, 4 December 1916, of being absent without leave, midnight, 30 November 1916, to noon, 1 December 1916: awarded 7 days' confined to barracks, and forfeited 1 day's pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 21 December 1916; taken on strength, 55th Bn, 8 February 1917.

Wounded in action, 2 April 1917 (gun shot wound, right leg), and admitted to 9th Casualty Clearing Station; transferred by Ambulance Train, 3 April 1917, to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Wimereux, and admitted, 4 April 1917. Invalided to England, 6 April 1917, and admitted same day to Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich. Discharged on furlough, 4 May 1917, to report to No 4 Command Depot, Wareham, 19 May 1917.

Found guilty, 30 May 1917, of at Wareham being absent without leave from 3.30 pm, 19 May, to 8.30 pm, 29 May 1917: awarded 11 days' detention, and forfeited a total of 24 days' pay.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 9 June 1917; discharged, 1 November 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 146 days.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 1 November 1917 (debility); discharged, 10 November 1917.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 27 November 1917; discharged, 30 November 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 4 March 1918; rejoined 55th Bn in the field, 10 March 1918.

Admitted to 14th Australian Field Ambulance, 1 November 1918 (broncho-pneumonia), and transferred same day to 3rd Australian General Hospital, Abbeville; transferred to England, 28 February 1919, and admitted to Bethnal Green Military Hospital, London, 2 March 1919. Absent without leave from hospital, 5 March 1919; apprehended, 10 March 1919. Found guilty, 13 March 1919, of whilst a patient in Bethnal Green Military Hospital absenting himself without leave from 1800, 5 March 1919, until apprehended by Australian Provost Corps, 2000, 10 March 1919: awarded forfeiture of all privileges for the remainder of his time in Bethnal Green Military Hospital.

Transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 14 March 1919; discharged on furlough, 17 March 1919, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 31 March 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Medic', 10 April 1919; disembarked Sydney, 1 June 1919; discharged, Sydney, 9 July 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death5 August 1945