Kiernan, Leonard John

12 Gunner Leonard John Kiernan - 36th Heavy Artillery Group

Leonard John Kiernan was born in 18th August 1888 in Snug River Tasmania to James and Annie Kiernan, being one of eleven siblings born into the family.

The family moved to Hobart and then Zeehan Tasmania.

Joined Australian Army 1910 and was assigned to the Permanent Artillery. He served for the first few years in Tasmania and was then sent to Western Australia with Leonard posted to Fremantle RAGA Barracks in 1914.

Sadly his father died in Tasmania 1914 just as he had been posted to WA.

He was based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks in Burt Street Fremantle and also worked at the forts on Arthur Head and Fort Forrest. When the Great War began, the permanent Gunners were retained in Australia due to the threat of German Naval ships. However when that threat eased, the Gunners were able to enlist and were replaced in their role in Australia by reservists. There had been a call for experienced Heavy Artillery Gunners on the Western Front.

Many of the Permanent Gunners who were based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks were able to enlist on the 1st June 1915. Leonard was among them and was passed as fit by the medical examiner who recorded his details as;

Height - 5 feet 9 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 154lbs;

Chest Measurement - 38-40 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment, the men of the permanent artillery from Fremantle were sent across to Melbourne to join their fellow artillerymen. When in Victoria, Leonard was married on the 8th July 1916 to Alla May Hannigan. They only had several days of marriage before Leo had to leave, as after further training, the 36th Heavy Artillery Group embarked on the H.M.A.T. “Orsova” on the 17^th July 1915. 

However prior to their departure, the men were marched through the streets of Melbourne, as seen below (Published in the Australasian July 1915)

From September 1915 to February 1916 the men of the 36^th Heavy Artillery Group trained in England in preparation for their service in England. Leo had originally been allotted to the 55th Battery but in October 1915 he was transferred to the 54th Battery.

On the 27^th February 1916 Leo and the 36^th HAG landed at Boulogne and made their way to the battlefield. On the 16^th March 1916 they sustained their first casualties when the billets they were in at Mont St Eloy were bombarded by the Germans. A few were killed and many wounded, including some of his fellow Fremantle Gunners, however Leo came through unscathed.

He served in France till the 23rd June 1916 when he fell ill with chronic nephritis and was sent to the 2nd General Hospital at Le Havre. He was then sent to England where he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital. He was a patient here till the 9th August 1916 when he was sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs.

After a few days here Leo was transferred to the Artillery Details Camp at Parkhouse. He was then sent on to the Royal Australian Artillery Camp at Stowlangtoft. He was classified as medically not yet fit to return to action in France, so Leo was retained in the Artillery camp in England for the next eighteen months.

During this time he was given the training rank of Sergeant and was also able to attend courses at the British Artillery Schools. On the 15th September 1918 he returned to France and had to revert back to the rank of Gunner. He then served with his unit for the last few months of the war. He was still with them when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. Leo remained with the Heavy Artillery through to February 1919.

He then returned to England and was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. On the 19th April 1919 he left Devonport England aboard the transport ship Sardinia and set sail for Australia, reaching Melbourne on the 8th June 1919.

Leo then returned home to Tasmania where he was discharged from the AIF. He then resumed his career in the Permanent Army. In the 1920's Leo lived at 61 George Street Hobart through to the late 1920's, however he was then posted to Queensland and saw service in Townsville. He was part of the Australian Instructional Corps during World War Two, during which time he rose to the rank of Captain and was based in Queensland and New South Wales.

During his time in Sydney, Leo lived at Old South Head Road in Watsons Bay NSW. Leo died in Sydney NSW on the 16th October 1952.