Frank Lillicott (Jim) Leaver

Frank Lillicott (Jim) Leaver

Ancestry.com
Personal Information
Date of Birth	4 Oct 1915
Place of Birth	Guildford, Western Australia
Death	6 Nov 1987, aged 72
Place of Death	Toodyay, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	26 years, 5 months
Description	5'7¾" (1.73m) tall ; 142lbs 64.41 kg ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Dairy farmer
Religion	Methodist
Address	"The Homestead", Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. Frank William Leaver
Military Information
Reg Number	W67630
Date of Enlistment	22 Mar 1942
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia

Pre War

Frank is on the roll of a School in 1923 with his address given as Group 33, Peel Estate, Cnr Hopkinson & Orton roads.

Electoral Roll entries: 1937 - 1943 at 'The Homestead', Byford, farm assistant;

War Service

Frank enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corp at Armadale on 22 Mar 1942 and was allocated to the 2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion. On 5 Feb 1943 Frank was promoted Corporal, and on 8 Sep 1944 he was again promoted, this time to Sergeant. On 10 Dec 1944 Frank injured his middle finger on his left hand while on duty at the South Perth Rifle Range, and an investigation was held which confirmed that he had been on duty and that no negligence was involved. On 1 May 1945 along with the rest of the unit he was placed on the Reserve.

The investigation found that:

Sgt leaver is a duly attested member of 152 Troop of the 86th Anti Aircraft Search Light Battery, Fremantle VDC Battalion. He was detailed by the OC Lieut Cann A.B. for musketry practice at South Perth Rifle range on 10 Dec 1944, while getting out of the truck he slipped on some scrub, and fell with his left hand under the but of his rifle, injuring hte middle finger of his left hand. he reported the matter to W67608 Sgt Payne F.T., the NCO in charge of the party, who rendered first aid, before he carried on his duties for the rest of the day. He was instructed by Sgt Payne to report the accident to Battalion Headquarters on Monday 11 Dec 1944, which he did, and as he lives in the Byford area, was instructed to report to Dr Streich, at Armadale, but Dr Streich would not attend to his injury, he again reported to Sgt Payne, who contacted headquarters from Byford by phone. Sgt Leaver was instructed to report in person to Battalion Headquarters, which he did, and arrangements were made with 8 AA Gp VDC Headquarters for him to attend the RAP at Swan Barracks, where he was attended to by the Medical Officer at the RAP, his injury dressed, and given some dressing to take to his home, at Byford.

Post War

During 1953 Frank married Annie Morcombe (Nance) Folland (1925 - 2000) in Perth. Nance died on 17 Nov 2000, aged 85. They had two children, Margaret and Frank. Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 at 'The Homestead', Byford, farm assistant; 1963 - 1977 at 'Talga' Toodyay, farmer; 1980 at Lot 500 Jubilee street, Toodyay, farmer.

Notes

Frank's brother Harry Leaver also served with the 2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion.