WILSON Geoffrey Leaf

Geoffrey Leaf Wilson was born in Christchurch New Zealand to parents Christopher Richard Wilson and Lizzie Gertrude Harding, on the 27th December 1897.

I believe the family moved to Glasshouse not long prior to the war as they don't appear in the 1913 Electoral Rolls.

Geoffrey obtained his parents permission to enlist and as a 20 year old on 24th January 1918. He was stated to be 5ft 7 1/2 inches tall , weighing 123lbs and with black hair. His religion was Methodist.

On the 5th May he left Brisbane by train to Sydney and embarked on the Osterley on the 8th May - arriving in Liverpool on 8th July 1918.

Unfortunately he became ill and was admitted to Hospital - and it wasn't until 18th November that he went to France. After only a month with his battalion he contracted Mumps and was again put in hospital - he was returned to England in January 1819 where he was on leave until March and they then transferred him to the Pay Corps for duty - he served there until leaving England on the 22nd July on the HMAT Ulysses arriving back in Australia on 5th September 1919 and got his final discharge on the 29th September 1919.

On his return - he lived with his parents for a time in Gympie.

In 1929 he married Idyris Ann Davies. They had two children, John Leaf and Ralph.

They spent some time in New Guinea where he became a manager of a Coconut & Cocoa Plantation close to Rabaul. They returned to Brisbane on holidays in 1941 - when the Japanese overrun the area - so they were unable to return and lost all their belongings.

They returned and settled in Nambour where he became a strong member of the RSL and Legacy - and in July 1949 he began a dry cleaning service in the town.

Glass House Mountains Honor Roll, Glass House Mountains RSL, Cnr Steve Irwin Way & Reed Street, Glass House Mountains

Glass House Mountains Honor Roll, Glass House Mountains Hall, Coonowrin Road, Glass House Mountains

Shire of Landsborough Roll of Honour, Caloundra RSL, West Terrace, Caloundra