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Name: BILLYARD-LEAKE, Charles Robert (Capt.)

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Nee: twin bro of Edward Whaley Billyard-Leake and son of Charles Arthur Moresby Billyard-Leake

Birth Date: 13 Nov 1895 Campbelltown, Tasmania

Death Date: 20 May 1965 Salisbury, Rhodesia

First Date: 1925

Profession: Big game hunter

Area: Escarpment

Married: 1. In London 1924 Frances Ursula Makepeace 'Sally' Greswolde-Williams b. 1906 Bredenbury, Herefordshire, d. 11 Oct 1973 Mombasa (dau of Francis Wigley Greswolde-Williams and later m. to George Alexander Heath 1893-1983); 2. In Nairobi 27 Jan 1944 Mary Cecilia Hudson b. 1912

Children: Letitia (1927 Chelsea-2016); Sarah Elizabeth Ann (1925 Portsmouth-1979)

Book Reference: Red 25, Hut, Stud, Web

General Information:

EA Stud Book 1954 - Brood Mares - Thoroughbred - Breeders - Mrs C.R. Billyard Leake (1935)
Web - "The Argus" Tuesday August 27, 1929 - "Elephants, lions, leopards, wart-hogs and rhinoceri have been hunted and killed in Africa by Mrs C.R. Billyard-Leake, who, with her husband, Captain Billyard-Leake, arrived by the Orient liner Orama yesterday. Mrs Billyard-Leake was born in England, but she went to Kenya Colony - her father has a farm at Nairobi - when she was aged 5 years, and she remained there until she was aged 18 years. Captain Billyard-Leake is a member of an old Sydney family, and he went to England when a child. His father, an Australian now living in Egypt, gave Harefield Park, his English estate, to the military authorities during the war, and it was used as an Australian hospital. His elder brother, Lieut.-Commander E.W. Billyard-Leake, RN, was on the staff of the Prince of Wales during the Prince's visit to Australia. Mrs Billyard-Leake shot her first lion when she was aged 12 years and by the time that she was 18 she had accounted for 11 more, besides a miscellaneous "bag" which included 2 elephants and numbers of leopards and rhinoceri [sic]. She is disinclined to talk of her exploits, but the stories she does tell are stirring. Her husband is also a big game hunter and a keen amateur motion-picture photographer. Not the least exciting of their adventures occurred while he was attempting to obtain pictures of wild animals. ……….. Nearly all hunting is done on foot or on horseback. I had some very good sport with a pack of mongrel dogs, which included several half-Alsatians. However the hunting in East Africa is not what it used to be. The game has been thinned by large American parties and the fever country is the only part where there is plenty of it now. Mrs Billyard-Leake is a keen and skilful polo player, and she is devoted to horses. Horses provided one reason for the decision of her husband and herself to settle in Australia; disease is so rife among them in Africa that it is difficult to keep them; and £40,000 has been subscribed to reward the scientist who can find a means of safeguarding their health. Lately Mrs Billyard-Leake has ridden at Olympia, London where she won several prizes. Captain and Mrs Billyard-Leake, with their 2 children, are going to a sheep station belonging to Captain Billyard-Leake's father. It is near Cowra, in New South Wales.
Gazette 5/4/1938 - Honorary Game Warden

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