William Alexander Leaves Binks

William Alexander Leaves Binks was born in Flinders Street, Hindmarsh, Adelaide on July 24, 1893. He worked as a farmer and married Kathleen Lilian Moncrieff (born October 11, 1900, Cue, West Australia) on July 25, 1925 at Maylands, Perth, Australia.

The following is a brief biography written by Lyn Binks (grand daughter-in-law of William).

…(William Alexander Leaves Binks) first employment was at the Harris Scarfe store in Adelaide. His parents bought a farm at Yuna, Western Australia and moved there in 1907/08. Leaves worked there with his father until he got married. He met Kathleen Lillian Moncrieff in Geraldton around 1924. Kathleen was a teacher at the time working at Geraldton State School. The pair were married in July 1925. After their marriage they bought a farm at Merredin, farming wheat, oats and sheep. Leaves’ pet project was producing fat lambs, and he won a few prizes at the local show for his lambs. Leaves and Kathleen had 2 children, William Alexander and Helen Moncrieff. They left Merredin and moved to Leaves’ fathers farm at Yuna. Kathleen returned to work and they lived there until 1939.

They moved to Subiaco where Leaves had a short career at selling life insurance for MLC. Kathleen was once again back working as a relief teacher around the Metropolitan area. In early 1941 Leaves joined the army. He was based at Melville driving trucks. He then transferred to the Searchlight unit and was camped at South Beach – Fremantle. Leaves was knocked back from the war due to having slight diabetes. Also when the war broke out he was 51 years of age and probably considered too old for active duty. He discharged from the army in July 1948. He joined the Civil Service and had moved to Wembley.

Leaves retired when he was 65 and moved to Bunbury in January 1961. Here he lived his life out, and after his death in 1963 Kathleen moved back to the Metropolitan area to be near her children. She lived in Wembley Downs until her demise in 1983.

William Alexander Leaves Binks died on October 24, 1963 in Bunbury, Western Australia, and Kathleen on January 25, 1983 in Nedlands, Perth, Australia.

William as a child

William & Kathleen