Leo James Laws
William Laws > Benjamin Laws > Edmund Laws > Robert Laws > Charles Vincent Laws > Leo James Laws
Leo James Laws was the brother of my great-grandmother, Lavinia Jane Bennett Merrin (nee Laws), known as Lillie.
Leo was born around August 1888 in the Campbelltown area of Sydney. He was the tenth child of Charles Vincent Laws and his wife, Mary Ann McGarry.
We know that between 1878 and 1883 Charles was a publican in Liverpool. He was the licensee of the Commercial Hotel in Macquarie Street, Liverpool and may still have been there in 1888 when Leo was born. It is more likely, however, that he had moved to another pub in Campbelltown by the time Leo was born.
Between 1912 and 1917, Leo worked as an upholsterer for a company called W Rileys Limited in Sydney. In 1916 he married Lillie May Salter in Newtown and by 1917 they were living at 100 Rochester Street, Erskineville.
On 5 February 1917, Leo enlisted in the Australian Armed Forces but was discharged as being "medically unfit" on 8 August 1917 without having seen service overseas. He had served 206 days and his conduct was recorded as being "good". Leo's service record notes that he became ill and could not eat or retain food. This was due to a pre-existing kidney condition for which he had received treatment over the past eight or nine years in Sydney. The link to his service record is here.
Leo James Laws was the brother of my great-grandmother, Lavinia Jane Bennett Merrin (nee Laws), known as Lillie.
Leo was born around August 1888 in the Campbelltown area of Sydney. He was the tenth child of Charles Vincent Laws and his wife, Mary Ann McGarry.
We know that between 1878 and 1883 Charles was a publican in Liverpool. He was the licensee of the Commercial Hotel in Macquarie Street, Liverpool and may still have been there in 1888 when Leo was born. It is more likely, however, that he had moved to another pub in Campbelltown by the time Leo was born.
Between 1912 and 1917, Leo worked as an upholsterer for a company called W Rileys Limited in Sydney. In 1916 he married Lillie May Salter in Newtown and by 1917 they were living at 100 Rochester Street, Erskineville.
On 5 February 1917, Leo enlisted in the Australian Armed Forces but was discharged as being "medically unfit" on 8 August 1917 without having seen service overseas. He had served 206 days and his conduct was recorded as being "good". Leo's service record notes that he became ill and could not eat or retain food. This was due to a pre-existing kidney condition for which he had received treatment over the past eight or nine years in Sydney. The link to his service record is here.
This photo of Leo was probably taken in February or March of 1917. It was sent by one of Leo's sisters, Mollie, to my great-grandmother, Lillie Merrin, when Lillie was the postmistress at Nelson Bay, NSW.
The back of photo is inscribed: "Dear Lillie, This is another photo of Leo it is worse than the other. I will be sending you one of his wife and baby next week. We have had no more news about Ernie no news good news I hope. J Henry leaves for the front? next Wednesday. I was speaking to him on the phone tonight. Mr Prigg? (my boyfriend) has returned. He arrived here on the 6/4/17. He is in good health only his right leg from ankle to knee gives him trouble. Leo is still in Melbourne had a letter from him on Monday. He is leaving at the end of this month. No news everybody is OK. Heaps of love and kisses from all to self and dear little Noreen. Your loving sister, Mollie". The Ernie Mollie refers to is another of their brothers, Ernest Eugene Laws, a Catholic priest who at the time was serving in France.
After being discharged from the army in August 1917, Leo returned to Sydney. On 22 November 1916, Lillie gave birth to their son, Charles Ernest Laws.
Leo died at the City Road Emergency Hospital on 9 April 1919. At the time, he and Lillie and their son were living at 28 Holmwood Street, Newtown. According to the death notice published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 14 April, Leo died of pneumonic influenza. He was buried on 11 April at Rookwood Cemetery (grave reference SEC*M2*2**207).
In 1920, Lillie gave birth to a second son, Douglas Laws.
Leo's wife, Lillie, died in 1924 and the children went to live with relatives. Douglas was raised by one of his mother's sisters and there is a possibility that Charles may have been raised by his father's brother, Ernest Eugene Laws (Ernie), a Catholic priest. [1]
The back of photo is inscribed: "Dear Lillie, This is another photo of Leo it is worse than the other. I will be sending you one of his wife and baby next week. We have had no more news about Ernie no news good news I hope. J Henry leaves for the front? next Wednesday. I was speaking to him on the phone tonight. Mr Prigg? (my boyfriend) has returned. He arrived here on the 6/4/17. He is in good health only his right leg from ankle to knee gives him trouble. Leo is still in Melbourne had a letter from him on Monday. He is leaving at the end of this month. No news everybody is OK. Heaps of love and kisses from all to self and dear little Noreen. Your loving sister, Mollie". The Ernie Mollie refers to is another of their brothers, Ernest Eugene Laws, a Catholic priest who at the time was serving in France.
After being discharged from the army in August 1917, Leo returned to Sydney. On 22 November 1916, Lillie gave birth to their son, Charles Ernest Laws.
Leo died at the City Road Emergency Hospital on 9 April 1919. At the time, he and Lillie and their son were living at 28 Holmwood Street, Newtown. According to the death notice published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 14 April, Leo died of pneumonic influenza. He was buried on 11 April at Rookwood Cemetery (grave reference SEC*M2*2**207).
In 1920, Lillie gave birth to a second son, Douglas Laws.
Leo's wife, Lillie, died in 1924 and the children went to live with relatives. Douglas was raised by one of his mother's sisters and there is a possibility that Charles may have been raised by his father's brother, Ernest Eugene Laws (Ernie), a Catholic priest. [1]
Notes:
[1] Info from Cherie Burns, Charles Ernest Leo Laws' granddaughter.