Leo Joseph Power was born at Branxholme, Victoria in 1896 to parents Patrick & Ellen Power (nee Earls).

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 27th April, 1915, aged 18 years & 10 months, single & a Labourer from Branxholme, Victoria.

As Leo Joseph Power was under the age of 21 his parents were required to sign their consent for their son to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) for Active Service abroad. Ellen Power wrote & signed the following on 15th April, 1915: “I give my consent to my son Leo Joseph Power to volunteer for the war.”

Private Leo Joseph Power, Service number 2437, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Demosthenes (A64) on 16th July, 1915 with the 5th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements.

On 18th October, 1915 he embarked from Alexandria on H.T. Borda. He was taken on strength of 5th Battalion at Gallipoli on 18th November, 1915 from 7th Reinforcements.

He was sent to Field Ambulance at Lemnos on 12th December, 1915 & was transferred to Hospital Ship Soudan at Mudros on 26th December, 1915. He disembarked at Malta on the same day & was admitted to St. Patrick’s Hospital with Trench Feet and debility. Private Power was transferred to All Saints Hospital at Malta on 24th January, 1916. He was transferred to Hospital Ship Bornu on 11th February, 1916 – fit for active Service & embarked for Egypt. Private Power disembarked at Alexandria on 17th February, 1916 & was admitted to Overseas Base at Ghezireh on 18th February, 1916 from Malta. He rejoined his Battalion at Serapeum on 11th March, 1916.

On 25th March, 1916 Private Power embarked from Alexandria on Troopship Briton & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 30th March, 1916.

Private Leo Joseph Power was wounded in action in France on 17th (or 18th – illegible) August, 1916. He was admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance on 19th August, 1916 with shrapnel wound/s to Cheek then transferred the same day to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station with G.S.W. (Gunshot wound/s) to Cheek. Private Power was transferred to Ambulance Train 6 & was admitted to No. 26 General Hospital at Etaples, France on 20th August, 1916. He was transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot on 29th August, 1916 then transferred to 1 A.D.B. on 31st August, 1916. Private Power proceeded from 1st A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) on 19th September, 1916 & rejoined 5th Battalion in France on 20th September, 1916.

He reported sick on 3rd October, 1916 & was admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance with Gastro Enteritis. He was transferred & admitted to D.R.S. (Divisional Rest Station) – 1st Field Ambulance on 3rd October, 1916. Private Power was transferred & admitted to 17th Casualty Clearing Station on 3rd October, 1916 then transferred to 28 Ambulance Train on 5th October, 1916. He was admitted to 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France on 6th October, 1916 with Gastritis Enteritis – suspected Dysentry. He was transferred & admitted to 14th Stationary Hospital at Wimmereux on 7th October, 1916 with suspected Enteric Fever. (Another entry on Casualty From – Active Service recorded he was admitted to 14th Stationary Hospital on 13th October, 1916 with “Flexmer Dysentry”.) Private Power embarked for England on 13th October, 1916 from Boulogne, France on Hospital Ship Panama.

On 15th October, 1916 Private Power was admitted to 2nd Western General Hospital, England with Dysentery. He was transferred to Convalescent Hospital at Barton-on-Sea on 16th February, 1917. Private Power was discharged to Furlo from 14th March to 29th March, 1917 & was then to report to Perham Downs.

Private Power was discharged to Administrative Headquarters, 130 Horseferry Road, London on 14th March, 1917 to rejoin his Unit – Furlo. He was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 30th March, 1917 from Furlo & medically classified as B1A (fit for overseas training camp in a few weeks).

He was transferred to 67th Battalion on 28th April, 1917 & was marched out to Windmill Hill Camp at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on the same day.

On 25th June, 1917 Private Power reported sick & was admitted to Base Hospital at Windmill Hill. He was transferred to Military Hospital Tidworth, Wiltshire on the same day – cause N.Y.D. (Not yet determined). Private Power was diagnosed with an enlarged Liver on 27th June, 1917 & was reported to be seriously ill. He was transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, Middlesex on 9th July, 1917 (Purport card recorded Sarcoma of Liver).

Private Leo Joseph Power died at 7.10 am on 31st July, 1917 at 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield Park, Harefield, Middlesex, England from Pericarditis.

He was buried in St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Harefield, Middlesex, England where 112 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/o—w.html

Headstone photo – CWGC – Marcus Taylor
Churchyard photos courtesy of Peter Bennett