| Regimental number | 344 |
| Place of birth | Nowra, New South Wales |
| School | Inverell District Public School, Inverell, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Book-keeper |
| Address | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Height | 5' 9" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Edwin Alfred Reay, 200 Harcourt Street, New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Previous military service | Served for 1 year in Compulsory Service Area 7B, Brisbane, Queensland. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Corporal |
| Unit name | 41st Battalion, B Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/58/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A64 Demosthenes on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 41st Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal 'Work near Proyart on 11th/12th August 1918. On the 11th/12th August, 1918, near Proyart, during operations on the Somme, this N.C.O. assumed command of the Platoon on the Platoon Commander becoming a casualty. He carried forward the Platoon to its final objective despite heavy opposition from Machine Gun fire and successfully reorganised and took charge of the Platoon throughout the operation.' Recommendation date: |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Place of death or wounding | Hindenburg Line |
| Age at death | 21.1 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 21 |
| Place of burial | Doingt Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot III, Row E, Grave No. 4), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 134 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Edwin and Susie REAY, Haig Road, Milton, Brisbane |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Sydney, 18 May 1916; admitted to ship's hospital at sea, 4 June 1916 (pleurisy); discharged, 12 June 1917; readmitted to ship's hospital, 14 June 1917 (empyema); discharged, 20 July 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 20 July 1916, and admitted to Devonport Military Hospital, 20 July 1916 (empyema); discharged, 25 September 1916; marched out to 11th Training Bn, Larkhill. Promoted Acting sergeant, 20 February 1917. Detailed for Home Service by Medical Board, Larkhill, 9 May 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 11 June 1917; joined 41st Bn, in the field, 12 July 1917. Promoted Sergeant, 24 August 1917. Wounded in action, 4 October 1917 (shrapnel wound, scalp), and admitted to 64th Field Ambulance; transferred same day to 44th Casualty Clearing Station, and then to 18th General Hospital, Camiers, 6 October 1917. Transferred to 10th Convalescent Depot, 12 October 1917; to 3rd Australian Division Base Depot, Rouelles, 30 October 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 22 November 1917. On leave to England, 18 August 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 27 August 1918. Wounded in action (second occasion), 29 September 1918 (multiple shrapnel wounds); admitted to 11th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred same day to 20th Casualty Clearing Station. Died of wounds, 30 September 1918. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, REAY Leonard Edwin |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
