LEAKE, Lancelot Luke

Lancelot Luke Leake was born in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1890. At 25 years old, he enlisted, giving as his next of kin his wife, Jean Winifred Leake. He was well educated and and had a position as a Judge's Associate. His address in East Melbourne -   'Belmont', Clarendon St. -  was, at first puzzling, as he both enlisted and lived in his home state of Western Australia. However, a newspaper notice in the West Australian from Friday, 19 November, 1915, explains the mystery:

            Marriage: Thursday September 23 at the Archbishop's private chapel at George's Terrace, by Rev.                               Lawrence Riley, Luke Lancelot, fourth son of Mrs and the late Mr George Leake, Perth, to Jean Winifed,   youngest daughter of Captain and Mrs. Lindquist, East Melbourne.

 Luke Leake, as he later preferred to be known, had enlisted prior to his marriage, on 16 July, 1915, and after training was assigned to the 12th battalion, 10th Reinforcements. However, his skills almost immediately marked him out as more valuable as a non-combatant and while he was sent to Alexandria, on 25 February, 2016, he was promoted to Corporal and attached to the Australian Records Office, 3rd Echelon - that is, someone who was working in a supporting role behind the battle. On 21 September, now a soldier serving in the Australian Records Section, he left Egypt, disembarking at Marseilles , to join the Australian Records Section in France, probably at Rouen. On 1 May,1917, he was promoted to Sergeant, but was demoted to temporary Sergeant on 11 May. It would seem that he was ill, perhaps just worn out, because on 14 May, he was taken to hospital, suffering from 'debility'. His war service, while not dangerous, placed a heavy load on those in the 3rd Echelon.  Otherwise known as the Adjutant- General's Office, a sergeant was appointed to each fighting unit. The Sergeant's role was to maintain all personnel and other records of his unit, including casualty returns and to oversee the War Diaries sent to the Office every month.

On 25 May, Luke Leake was discharged to his unit, rejoining straight from hospital. He served in France until the end of the war. In 6 September, 1918, he was working at a Convalescent Camp, 3rd Echelon General Headquarters, at Havre, then disembarked from Southampton on 18 November, a week after the Armistice, to Administration in London. 

It was not until 1 March 1919 that he was able to return to Australia, on board the China, leaving from Devonport, England, and disembarking at Fremantle, Western Australia, 1/6/19. He was to have a sterling career first as Clerk of the Legislative Council and then Clerk of the Parliament of Western Australia. Following  the coronation in 1937 of King George V and Queen Elizabeth,  on Tuesday 18 May 1937, he was awarded a Coronation Medal. He lived at 16 Waratah St., Nedlands, and died on 19 April, 1951. Ex-servicemen from the 12th and 52nd Battalion were invited to attend his funeral.