Leonard Buxton Laurie was born on the 9th October 1893, the elder son of John Buxton Laurie and Ada Pryor at Adelaide, South Australia. Leonard was baptised at St Paul’s Church, Adelaide on the 22nd November 1893.

Leonard’s father, John, held a seat on the Stock Exchange in South Australia for over 30 years.

From the late 1890’s the family lived on an orchard property formerly owned by Ada’s late father, Mr William Pryor. Leonard’s siblings were Mary Myrtle (b 1888) and Robin Maitland Buxton (b 1899).

Leonard attended Queen’s School, North Adelaide from at least 1906. He was third in the 220 yards flat (under 13) and first in the Junior Championship, 100 yards (Under 13) at the School Sports in September 1906.

In October 1907 he passed English History, Latin, French and Geometry in the Primary Examinations.

At the Queen’s School Sports in September 1908, Leonard won the Quarter Mile Handicap Flat race. In December 1908 Leonard passed the Junior Public Examinations in English Literature (credit), English History, Latin, French, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Physics (credit) and Inorganic Chemistry.

He competed in the Junior Singles Handicap of the South Australian Lawn Tennis tournament in March 1909.

In September 1909 Leonard was second in the Senior Championship 100 yards, third in the Flat Race, 120 yards (cup event), and second in the Flat Race, half mile (cup event) at the Queen’s School Sports.

He was equal ninth in the Junior Division of the Church of England Sunday School Union examinations representing the Salisbury area in August 1907, and in October 1909 he gained a special certificate in lieu of tenth prize in the Middle Division examinations.

In December 1909 Leonard was awarded second prize in the Sixth Form for the Christmas Term. He passed the Senior Public Examinations in Latin, French, Arithmetic and Algebra, Geometry, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry.

Leonard represented Queen’s School in a cricket match against the Hahndorf College at Hahndorf in December 1909. He took one wicket for 45 runs and scored a duck.

For his final year at school (1910), Leonard attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide, where he passed Higher Public Examinations in French, Physics and Modern History.

Leonard then returned to his old school, Queen’s School, as a Master. He was a resident at the boarding house and an efficient cricket coach. He competed in Rifle Shooting Competitions , representing the Salisbury Club where his father was also a member.

Leonard was a member of the Salisbury Literary Society. In January 1912 Leonard competed in a tennis tournament at Gawler, playing Mixed Doubles with his sister Mary. The pair also competed in the Mixed Doubles at the South Australian Lawn Tennis Tournament in March 1912.

Leonard commenced studying toward a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Adelaide in 1913. He undertook three subjects in 1913, four in 1914 and four in 1915.

In March 1914, Leonard joined the committee of the University Art Society and he attended the eighth annual dinner of the society in July 1914 preposing the toast to “Our Predecessors”. 

Leonard was also a member of the University Christian Union and on the committee which organised the University Students’ Night Out (concert) in December 1914.

Cricket

Leonard played cricket for the Adelaide University Cricket Club in the B Grade in both the 1914/15 and 1915/16 seasons.

Boat

Leonard represented the Arts School in the University Schools Boat Race in July 1914. He competed in the Senior Fours and was in Seat 3. He weighed 10 stone 13 pounds. The race was a mile from the weir to the boatshed.

Football

Leonard commenced playing football for the Adelaide University Football Club in 1914. He was a member of the B Grade team which competed in the Adelaide Students’ Association competition. Leonard was present at the 1914 Intervarsity match when Adelaide defeated Melbourne University for the first time in an Intervarsity football competition. Leonard was among the best players on a number of occasions during 1914 and was a member of the 1914 B Grade Premiership team. In 1915 Leonard was a member of both the B Grade and A Grade teams.

Lawn Tennis

In March 1913 Leonard competed in the South Australian Lawn Tennis tournament Mixed Doubles partnering Miss E. Craven, and in March 1914 he competed in the Men’s Singles (Class II). For the 1914-15 Pennant Tennis competition, Leonard was nominated to play for the Adelaide University team in the Class II competition.

Leonard enlisted on 2 October 1916, aged 22 years and 10 months. He stood 5 feet 7½ inches tall and weighed 146 pounds. He had a medium complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes. Leonard had previously served in a Rifle Club for six years and had spent one year in the Voluntary Cadets.

Leonard’s service in the First World War is well described in the extract from Robert Kearney's Fallen Saints, published in April 2015 and reproduced on the Virtual War Memorial Australia.

“Leonard Buxton Laurie of Salisbury, South Australia was born in Adelaide. He was educated at Queen’s School, the Collegiate School of St Peter and the University of Adelaide, and after completing his degree in teaching, became a schoolmaster.

He enlisted in Adelaide on 2 October 1916 and a week later was posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion, where, after three days, he was made a provisional corporal. Although his only previous military experience was 12 months in cadets at school, he was a fast learner. During training at Mitcham Camp, he passed both a Trench Warfare Course and a Musketry Course.

Originally, he joined the 19th reinforcements for the 27th Battalion, but this was changed, and he was reallotted to the 23rd quota for the 10th Battalion. The 23rd quota sailed from Adelaide aboard HMAT Berrima on 16 December. Upon arrival in England, Laurie was reverted to Private.

He was admitted to Parkhouse Military Hospital with mumps on 5 April 1917. After recovery, he proceeded to France on 14 May and was taken on the strength of the battalion a fortnight later.

On 1 October 1917, he was appointed Second Lieutenant and was severely wounded in action during a raid on Celtic Wood on 9 October. Second Lieutenant Laurie was treated at the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station for gunshot wounds to the buttocks and left leg and was invalided to England on 22 October.

From his hospital bed at the 3rd General Hospital, Wandsworth, England, on 4 November 1917, Laurie recounted the events of the raid:

“I was on a raid in the early morning of 9th Oct 1917. Lt. Wilsdon with his platoon was on my left as we advanced. We reached the German lines when we were heavily fired on by machine guns and snipers, causing heavy casualties. On our return, Lt. Wilsdon was reported missing. I know no further details. This raid took place on the other side of Broodsand [sic] Ridge. I think it is possible that he was wounded and captured.”

Corporal Francis Thomas Aquilla Wood, 10th Battalion AIF, was awarded the Military Medal for his actions during that same raid:

“During a raid made by his Battalion on Celtic Wood, east of Ypres on the morning of 9 October 1917, Cpl. Wood led his section with great brilliancy and during hand-to-hand fighting, his courage was admired by all who witnessed his work. Later, when returning to the front line, he carried in his officer (2nd Lt. Laurie) who had been badly wounded. This was done under heavy artillery and rifle fire.”

On 22 January 1918, Second Lieutenant Laurie was promoted to Lieutenant. After recovering from his wounds, he was discharged fit for full duties at the end of March. He rejoined the 10th Battalion in France on 11 April, but was again wounded in action on 27 April near Meteren and died later that night. He was just 23 years old.

In a letter dated 29 June 1918, Nursing Sister Maddox wrote to the Enquiries Officer at the Australian Red Cross Hospital:

“Lieutenant Laurie’s aunt (Mrs Waterhouse) had called at the hospital the day before to ask for particulars relating to the death of her nephew. She was most kindly received and promised the help of the Red Cross in this matter. However, on arriving home, she found a letter from the Military Chaplain of the 10th Battalion giving full details. She trusts, therefore, that this letter may save the trouble of making further enquiries on the part of the Red Cross Society, to whom she is deeply grateful for their kindness.”

Lieutenant Colonel Wilder-Neligan later reported to the Officer-in-Charge of Base Records that after Laurie was wounded near Meteren on 27 April, he was evacuated to a Field Medical Unit at Godewaersvelde but died that night. His body was buried by the Battalion Chaplain (Chaplain Makeham) near Caestre (Sheet 27 W.2.6.6.6), and a cross was erected over his grave. His personal effects were recovered and sent to base.

According to information provided by Leonard’s mother, one of his cousins was killed in action and two others were wounded.

Sources:

• [i] Australian War Memorial, Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files – 2nd Lieutenant Walter Harry Wilsdon / 2971108, viewed 5 April 2006

• [ii] Australian War Memorial, Honours and Awards (Recommendations): First World War – Wood, Francis Thomas Aquilla / AWM 28 1/34P2, p. 37, viewed 5 April 2006

• [iii] Australian War Memorial, Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files – Lieutenant Leonard Buxton Laurie / 1560211, viewed 5 April 2006

• [iv] National Archives of Australia: B 2455 – Laurie, Leonard Buxton / 7379892, viewed 5 April 2006

• [v] Australian War Memorial, Roll of Honour Cards 145, 1914–1918 War – Laurie, Leonard Buxton, viewed 5 April 2006

Leonard was wounded near Meteren on 27th April 1918; he was evacuated to a Field Medical Unit at Godewaersvelde but died that night. His body was buried by the Battalion Chaplain (Chaplain Makeham) near Caestre and a cross was erected on the grave.

His grave now bears the inscription: “Eldest dearly loved son of J Buxton & Ada Laurie A faultless son”

For the complete profile on Leonard Buxton Laurie including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy, Janne Filmer & Kym Beilby) please see the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25714