The Soldier's Details

Len was employed as a station-hand, Cherrita Station, Roebourne prior to enlisting with AIF August 1940. He joined Headquarters Coy under Commanding Officer Capt McEwen.  Peat was one of three privates and became a batman/runner.

Len was KIA at Ulu Pandan, Reformatory Road, Singapore on 12 February 1942 aged 25 years; ( 27 years after his uncle Len had died at the Dardanelles in 1915.)

Capt. Oswald Sydney McEwin, aged 31 years for whom he was batman/runner was also KIA that same day.

 

Below:  Len’s mother has remarried to O’Neill.

 

 

On 3 May 1915 Len Peat’s uncle after whom he was named, died  of wounds received following action at Gallipoli.

Leonard Hugh Peat (Snr) enlisted with 16th Battalion WW1 on 20 October 1914, and died about 6 months later. The 16th Battalion suffered terrible loss of life and injuries attempting advancement at the ‘Bloody Angle’.  Leonard Hugh Peat required amputation of his left leg, and unfortunately died soon after on Hospital Ship ‘Dongola’.  He was buried at Sea aged 26 years.

Below:  Leonard Hugh Peat’s death.

The Peat boys Bertie (father of Len Jnr)  and Len (Snr) were obviously very close, they were the only sons of their parents Kate and Wellington Peat.  The large family included at least six daughters.  Wellington Peat died in early June 1914.  (It was a few months later Len Peat (Snr) enlisted with 16th Battalion).  Their widowed mother Kate Peat received a pension after the death of her son Len (Snr).

Len’s father Bertie Peat who was born 1886 Silverton, NSW married Lucy Florence Coker in 1910, Perth Western Australia.  They had 3 sons and and daughter.  Len’s brother Keith joined the RAAF.

In 1931 Bertie and Lucy divorced, Len was about 15 years old.

Below:  divorce of Lucy and Bertie Peat 1931.

Above:  Len’s brother Harold died 1936 aged 23.

In 1936 Len’s older brother Harold Peat aged 23 years died. At that time Len who was 20 years of age was working in Roebourne and Keith was working at Mulga Downs, their sister Joyce had married in 1933.

 

Below:  Len’s father Bertie Peat died 1942.  His motther remarried, she died 1948

 

 

 

Below:  Bert Peat had enlisted WW1, however was rejected.

 

Below:  Sunday Times

Below:  In May 1915 Bertie and Lucy suffer the tragedy of the birth and death of their twin boys.

Below:  Peat’s mother’s Father i.e. maternal Grandfather

Below:  1920 death of Mary Coker – Len’s maternal Grandmother

 

 

 

Below:  death of Wellington Peat 1916 – father of Bertie and paternal Grandfather of Len.

 

 

Below:  death of Peat’s paternal Grandmother 1938, Kate Peat.