Raymond Lionel Leane CB CMG DSO (1878-1962)

BRIG Sir Raymond Lionel (Ray) "The Bull" Leane CB CMG DSO

Born 12 Jul 1878 in Prospect, South Australia (Australia)

Ancestors

Son of Thomas John Leane and Alice Ann (Short) Leane

Brother of Rosa Alice Leane, Edwin Thomas Leane CBE MiD, Ernest Albert Leane, Allan William Howard Leane, Ethel Alice (Leane) Taylor, Sidney Rowland Leane, Hilda Violet (Leane) Hunter, Norman Short Leane, Nellie Leane and Benjamin Bennett Leane

Husband of Edith Louise (Laybourn Smith) Leane — married Jun 1902 in Western Australia

Father of Raymond Lionel Laybourn Leane, Kenneth Morton Leane, Geoffrey Malcolm Leane MiD, Allan William Henderson Leane and Benjamin David Leane

Died 25 Jun 1962 at age 83 in Daw Park, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

Ray Leane CB CMG DSO is Notable.

Brigadier Sir Raymond Leane CB CMG DSO & Bar MC OStJ VD JP was an Australian Army officer who rose to command the 48th Battalion and then 12th Brigade during The Great War. For his performance during the war, Leane was described by the Australian Official War Historian, Charles Bean, as "the foremost fighting leader" in the Australian Imperial Force, and "the head of the most famous family of soldiers in Australian history", among other accolades. After the war, he served as Commissioner of the South Australia Police from 1920 to 1944, for which he was knighted. He was a foundation member and inaugural president of the Legacy Club of Adelaide, established to assist the dependents of deceased ex-servicemen. After the outbreak of the Second World War, despite being on the retired list, Leane became the state commander of the Returned and Services League-organised Volunteer Defence Corps, a form of home guard, in addition to his duties as police commissioner.

Formative years

Raymond Lionel Leane was born on 12th July 1878 at Prospect, South Australia (Australia). Ray was one of eight children of shoemaker, Thomas John Leane, and his wife Alice Ann Short. ^[1] Upon starting work at twelve years of age, he gained employment with a retail and wholesale business, which sent him to Albany, Western Australia. He later moved to Claremont, Western Australia. In June 1902, Leane married Edith Louise Laybourn-Smith, a sister of the architect Louis Laybourn-Smith. ^[2] He and Edith continued to live at Claremont for a further four years, during which time (1903-06) he served on the local council.

A mind for the military

His interest in the military led to Leane being commissioned in 1905 as a Lieutenant in the 11th (Perth Rifles) Infantry Regiment, a unit of the part-time Citizen Forces. In 1908, he bought a retail business in Kalgoorlie and transferred to the Goldfields Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Captain in November 1910.

Ray Leane CB CMG DSO is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Leane was commissioned into the Australian Imperial Force on 25th August 1914, upon declaration of the First World War, and led a company of the 11th Australian Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, at the landing at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, on 25th April 1915. The 3rd Brigade were the first ashore.

Ten days after the landing, a company from the 11th Battalion mounted the AIF's first raid of the war against Turkish positions at Gaba Tepe. ^[3] Raymond rose to temporarily command his battalion,^[4] and was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO),^[5] awarded the Military Cross (MC),^[6] twice Mentioned in Despatches^[7]^[8] and wounded three times during the Gallipoli Campaign.

BRIG Sir Ray Leane CB CMG DSO was wounded in action at Gallipoli during The Great War.

Following the Gallipoli evacuation, Leane was appointed as the commanding officer of the newly formed 48th Battalion, which soon after was transported to the Western Front in France and Belgium. Important battles that the 48th were involved in under his command included the Battle of Pozières in 1916, and the First Battle of Bullecourt and First Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. During the latter battle, he was once more severely wounded. During 1916–1917, he was Mentioned in Despatches three more times,^[9]^[10]^[11] was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)^[12] and awarded a bar to his DSO.^[13]

After recuperating, in early 1918 he returned to his battalion and led it during the German Spring Offensive of March and April 1918, which included heavy fighting near Dernancourt, for which he was again mentioned in despatches. As a battalion commander, he proved a difficult subordinate, disobeying the orders of his brigade commanders at both Pozières and Dernancourt. In June 1918 he was promoted to Colonel and temporary Brigadier General to command the 12th Brigade, which he led during the Battle of Amiens in August, and the fighting to capture the Hindenburg Outpost Line in September. He was Mentioned in Despatches a further two times after the conclusion of the war,^[14] and in early 1919 was also awarded the Croix de Guerre (France),^[15] and made Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) for his "gallant and able" leadership while commanding the 12th Brigade.^[16]

A mind for the military and policing

After helping oversee the repatriation of soldiers back to Australia, Leane returned home to South Australia in late 1919. In May 1920 he was selected as the next Commissioner of the South Australia Police, taking up the appointment in July. His appointment was initially controversial within the force, as there had been an established practice of selecting the commissioner from within its ranks. His administration of the police force was generally praised. Initiatives during his tenure included, amongst others, introduction of 15–17 year old police cadets into the force, introduction of probationary police training for youths aged 17 to 20, and introducing police dogs into service. Leane was also an advocate for the role of female police officers, and was the first to place a woman in control of the female members of the force.

Leane also returned to part-time soldiering, commanding at the brigade level until 1926. For his military service since 1905, he was awarded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration (VD).

In 1920, he was appointed an aide-de-camp to the Governor-General.

In April 1939, with the danger of war in Europe, Leane became a member of the State Emergency Civil Defence Council, with responsibilities for internal security, protection of vulnerable points, control of the civil population, intelligence, detention of enemy civil aircraft, civil flying, and the air examination service.^[17]

Ray Leane CB CMG DSO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army Volunteer Defence Corps 1940-1944
South Australia

After the outbreak of the Second World War, despite being on the retired list, Leane became the state commander of the Returned and Services League-organised Volunteer Defence Corps, a form of home guard, in addition to his duties as commissioner. For his service with the VDC during the Second World War he was issued with the War Medal 1939–1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939–1945.^[18]

On 7th September 1946, Leane was invested with knighthood by the Governor-General of Australia, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, in recognition of exceptional 'services during 24 years at the head of the South Australian Police Force'.

A mind for veterans and their families

Leane was a foundation member and inaugural president of the Legacy Club of Adelaide, established to assist the dependents of deceased ex-servicemen. He actively supported commemorative activities such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, and attended unveilings of memorials. He remained active with returned servicemen's associations until his death in 1962.

In retirement he became involved in conservative politics, becoming the inaugural president of the Plympton branch of the conservative Liberal and Country League, the forerunner of the state Liberal Party. He remained a strong advocate of part-time soldiering, as well as a system of universal military training.

Leane continued to lead the Adelaide Anzac Day March each year for many years.

Photo p20 : ^[19] ANZAC day 1947 The Governor takes the salute, with the chiefs of the fighting services on the dais, during the march in Adelaide, South Australia, and Crowds Flock To City For Anzac Anniversary (1947, April 26). The Advertiser
Service Leaders Passing Saluting Base in March (1947, April 26). ^[20]

Aged 83 years, he passed away on 25th June 1962 in the Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia, with he and his wife celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary two weeks before his death. He was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, Adelaide, and was survived by Edith, and six children: five sons and a daughter.^[21] The then Premier of South Australia, Sir Thomas Playford, said that Leane "had been one of the great generals of World War I, and had also served with conspicuous ability as police commissioner for many years". ^[22]

Decorations

As well as being wounded for his country four times, for which there is no Australian Purple Heart-type equivalent, Ray Leane was deservedly appointed to several Orders and awarded many decorations:

Knight Bachelor
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (OStJ)
Military Cross (MC)
Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)
Mentioned in Despatches, eight times
Volunteer Officer's Decoration (VD)
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
War Medal 1939-45
Australia Service Medal 1939-1945
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
King George VI Coronation Medal

Service runs in the family

the Leane brothers of The Great War

During The Great War, four of Raymond's brothers and six of his nephews served in the Australian Imperial Force, with two of his brothers and two of his nephews being killed. In the studio portrait are, left to right: standing: Major Benjamin Leane (KIA 1917), Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Leane MC, Warrant Officer 1 Ernest Leane; seated: Major Edwin Leane and Major Allan Leane (died of wounds 1917).

Raymond's namesake son, known as Lionel, became a detective sergeant. Raymond's son Geoffrey was originally a mounted policeman and then a detective; he was a Lieutenant Colonel and twice Mentioned in Despatches during the Second World War, later became a police inspector, and was deputy commissioner from 1959 to 1972. Youngest son, Benjamin, named in honour of Raymond's youngest brother, was a Warrant Officer during the Second World War, and survived being a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese.