Alfred Buckingham Leeming

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 27/07/2016 - 13:48

First Name:

Alfred

Middle Name:

Buckingham

Last Name:

Leeming

Date of Birth:

Saturday, April 11, 1891

Mother's Name:

Selina Leeming nee Buckingham

Father's Name:

Thomas Leeming

Date Enlisted:

Monday, August 24, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Sergeant

Unit:

1st Field Artillery Brigade

Company:

2nd Battery

Service:

Artillery

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, March 21, 1953

Place of Death:

Christchurch, New Zealand

Details:

Alfred Leeming (Service No 281) was born in New Zealand and had served 2 years with the New Zealand Militia before coming to Australia.

At enlistment Alfred was single, 23 years old, employed as a fitter, and lived at Bulli, N.S.W.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A8 Argyllshire with 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Battery 2, on 18th October 1914. The troops arrived in Egypt in December 1914, and while entries in Alfred's file do not indicate any service before 1916, this unit served on Gallipoli and in Egypt before arriving in France.

On 22nd April 1916 Aflfred was promoted to Sergeant.

Alfred was wounded on 31st October 1916 and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his left shoulder. The injury was severe and he was returned to Australia in May 1917.

After he arrived in Australia, Alfred went home to New Zealand and had his leave extended due to a hospital admission in Christchurch. He was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit, on 30th January 1918.

On 28th March 1928 he married Agnes Down in Christchurch where he died in 1953.

A letter from his widow in 1967 asking about the Gallipoli Medallion stated he had spent many months in hospital in Sydney and Christchurch due to his war service.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, LEEMING ALFRED BUCKINGHAM