Born at Bowral, NSW on 2 December 1891, RC. Enlisted at Perth 7 January 1915 age 23, farrier and machine export traveller. Educated at Meckering School and Perth Technical School. Nok mother, Esther at Meckering and later that of his wife Kathleen Le Nay of Cholmney Tce, Long Ditton Surrey, England, where they met in 1916. Kathleen’s addresses in 1922 were, The Grange Marmion St, Cottesloe and Barnfield St, Claremont. Louis embarked on 13 September 1915 on Hermesticoles and his file lists him at Tel-el-Kebir, Ismailia, Habieta, Serap, Alexandria, Marseilles, Rouellen camp, and Pozieres in France. He suffered a gunshot wound to his arm when south of Poziers 21 August 1916 and was gassed 31 December 1917. He was wounded a second time 10 August 1918 but continued to advance with his men until he was killed by machine gun fire. There are two notes referring to his grave. One gives the grave details as Ridgeway British Cemetery I mile west of Lihons and 8 ½ miles NWN of Nesle. The second has him re-interred at Heath Cemetery, 3.5 kilometres north of Harbonnieres and 12 kilometres east of Corbie. Katherine Le Nay was asked to submit an epitaph but had to contain the wording to 66 letters. Her original wording was: ‘In loving memory of my husband and father of Desmond born 15 August 1918. Faith spans the gulf of death with the bridge of hope.’ The memorial scroll sent to the next of kin of all Australian soldiers killed in action or died of war causes, came with the words, ‘He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten. Awards and service medals: 1914-15 Star, BWM and VM. Mentioned in Dispatches (MID). He was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 13 November 1916 for gallant service and devotion to duty. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 103 29 June 1917 and 4th Supplement No. 36706, London Gazette 28 May 1918. Louis’s widow later resided at The Grange, Marmion St, Cottesloe.
