ANZAC Remembrance: Leo Carden Meagher WW1
Leo Carden Meagher, a 26 year old solicitor, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 8th November 1915.
He was posted to the 6th Field Artillery Brigade in the second division artillery with a rank of Gunner. Posted to France in the 17th Battery ‘on strength’ in 1917, he was awarded a Military Cross in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the field at Montbrehain, in the rank of Lieutenant. Demobilised in 1919, Leo disembarked in Melbourne in April 1919.
Gunner L. C. Meagher, photo by Spencer Shier, 13 November 1915. SLV H37823/34
The timeline below outlines the history of Leo’s war service for World War One, taken from the Australian Imperial Force records held by the National Archives Australia, B2455. His records tell us he was 5ft 11.5 inches tall, weighed 11 stones, had a fair complexion with blue-grey eyes and fair hair. His religion was noted as Roman Catholic and his distinctive features included a large mole on the back of the right shoulder and vaccination marks on left arm. Leo’s next of kin was his father, John Sheehy Meagher, Barrister at Law who shared his son’s accolades and reports from the field with the Xaverian (an annual year book published by Leo’s alma mater Xavier College) and the newspapers. These published accounts by Leo are the only records that survive, with the exception of some photographs and Leo’s war medals, held by his descendants.
Lieutenant Leo C. Meagher, c.1916-19. Meagher Family Collection
Good to read at this time of the year