Kavanagh, L A (Leo Ambrose)
No photo at present
Gunner Leo Kavanagh was the son of Edward and Catherine Kavanagh; husband of Elizabeth Kavanagh, of 23 Longtower Street, Londonderry.
Leo was no longer in the services and was working as a labourer when he died in the Ulster Volunteer Hospital in Craigavon, Northern Ireland. He died from complications caused by cirrhosis of the liver.[1]
Samuel’s regiment during the war was 24 Battery, 9th (Londonderry), Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery. Nicknamed “The Derry Boys”. They were reservists and had been called up for active service in the later months of 1939, finally leaving for Egypt during November of the same year. On arrival they were deployed in Alexandria for training. This would continue right through until June 1940 when they took part in the defence of the city and its harbour against Italian bombers.
The battery would remain in the Middle East and North Africa, spending time defending Alexandria[2], Port Sudan[3], Palestine, Mersa Matruh,[4] Sidi Barrani[5] and Tripoli[6] from the German and Italian air forces until it took part in the invasion of Italy in 1943. Here they remained until May 1944 when they left for the UK. Their foreign war was finally over, and they would only remain in defence of England until July and then onto Northern Ireland. Their war was now over.
Date of Death: 03/02/1946 (Aged 42)
Service: Gunner, 24 Battery. 9th (Londonderry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Royal Artillery
Service Number: 146000
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery. Sec. N. Class B. Grave 619.
[1] Cirrhosis of the liver is basically scaring of the liver.
[2] Alexandria is the second-largest city in Egypt.
[3] Port Sudan is a port city in eastern Sudan.
[4] Mersa Matruh is a port city in Egypt, about 180 miles west of Alexandria.
[5] Sidi Barrani is a port city in Egypt, about 80 miles west of Mersa Matruh.
[6] Tripoli is a port city in today’s Libya, around 980 miles west of Mersa Matruh.
