Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Gordon Stanley Leeder, sometimes known as Stanley, was born on 10 December 1892 at Oturehua, Central Otago, the second son of William Robert and Amelia Jane (née Dungey) Leeder. William and Amelia who married in Central Otago in 1888, had six daughters and five sons. In their early days, Mr Leeder was a miner and moved to various parts of the South Island. With some of his siblings, Gordon was admitted to Garston School in 1900, moving on to George Street Dunedin School in October of that year, and then on to Mornington School in March 1905. In 1910 he took Dunedin Technical classes. By 1914 Gordon was employed as a civil engineer in Napier. He had spent some time in Timaru, becoming a member of the 2nd South Canterbury Regimental Band. “Yesterday, by the second express, Mr G. S. Leeader, of the staff of the National Bank of New Zealand, Ltd. (a son of Mr W. R. Leeder), left for Napier. Prior to his departure he was met by the staff, on behalf of which Mr E. P. Sealey, accountant, presented him with a handsome case of pipes on severing his connection with the bank. Mr Sealev referred to the recipient’s good qualities and happy associations with the staff, and wished him every success in his future career. Mr Leeder suitably responded, thanking the staff for tihe tribute anl gift. Mr Leeder was a popular member of the Regimental Band. He has obtained a position as assistant engineer to the Napier Borough Council.” [Timaru Herald, 28 March 1913.] “Mr G. S. Leeder, of Timaru, who has been appointed assistant borough engineer at Napier, has taken up his duties. Prior to leaving Timaru he was met by the staff of the National Bank of New Zealand, and, acting on behalf of the staff, Mr E. P. Sealey, accountant, presented him with a handsome case of pipes on severing his connection with the bank. Mr Sealey referred to the recipient’s good qualities and happy associations with the staff and wished him every success in his future career. Mr Leeder was a popular member of the Regimental Band.” [Daily Telegraph (Napier), 1 April 1913.] Mr W. R. Leeder had taken up duties as engineer to the Timaru Borough Council on 2 May 1910. He had previously been engineer to the Clutha County Council. Several of the family (Arnold, Leslie, Baden, Margaret) started at Timaru South School in June 1910; Margaret and Audrey left Timaru South for Kaikoura in February 1917.

G. S. Leeder, assistant borough engineer, left Napier on 7 March 1916 to join the 16th Reinforcements Engineers. He enlisted at Trentham on that date, noting that he had served in the 2nd South Canterbury Regimental Band. Sergeant G. S. Leeder embarked with the New Zealand Engineers of the 16th Reinforcements, departing for Devonport, England on 19 August 1916 per the “Aparima”. Just before leaving he was engaged to Muriel Orbell, of Napier. He returned to New Zealand per the “Cordoba” which was expected at Lyttelton on 30 August 1919. “Mr G. S. Leeder, assistant city engineef who went to the front over four years ago, has returned to Napier. He is to resume his duties for the Napier City Counpil this week.” [Daily Telegraph (Napier), 24 November 1919.] He was discharged on 29 October 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Gordon resumed his position in Napier, moving to Palmerston North then to Wellington where he remained for many years. He married Muriel Idina Agnes Orbell in 1921. They are known to have had three daughters. Gordon also served in World War Two. In the 1966 Queen’s Birthday Honours, he was awarded the MBE for athletics administration. Muriel died in January 1949 at Roseneath, Wellington. Gordon Stanley Leeder died at Auckland on 24 January 1990, aged 97 years, and was cremated at Purewa, as two brothers had been before him – Erastus William in 1985, aged 95, and Arnold Orlando in 1988, aged 90. In February 1933, history of the Timaru Municipal Band was recalled. A Roll of Honour list of members of the band who served in the War included G. S. Leeder. Two brothers of Gordon also served in World War One – the eldest Erastus William Leeder and Leslie Ranfurly Leeder.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [20 April 2026]; Timaru Herald, 28 March 1913, 11 February 1933 (Papers Past) [20 & 21 April 2026]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [20 April 2026]; School Admission records [25 April 2026]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [25 April 2026]; Purewa Cremation records .

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.