Donovan Luetchford arrived in Perth from London on 10 April 1912 as a 20-year-old. Barely three weeks later he made his debut for Claremont’s junior team, Glebe. When he enlisted after the end of the 1914 season he had become a regular in the senior team. By the time Luetchford was killed in the field in France on 3 May 1918, he had won a Military Medal, been wounded three times and risen through the ranks to become a commissioned officer. He was first wounded at Gallipoli on 29 August 1915 with a severe gunshot to the thigh which necessitated his transfer to England. For the second occasion, he suffered shell shock in France on 6 August 1916.
A few months later his actions in the field won him a Military Medal as reported in the London Gazette, “For gallant conduct and devotion to duty under trying weather conditions on a dangerous post during operations at GUEUDECOURT in November, 1916. This Corporal was in charge of observation posts in WHALE TRENCH and was untiring in his vigilance maintaining day and night an unceasing vigil with the result that his information brought about the dispersal with heavy losses of enemy working party on 26th/27th November, 1916. His untiring energy and cheerful disposition were great factors in maintaining the spirits of his men and his example in working to improve trench conditions in his intervals off watch, added greatly to the comfort and endurance of his men.”
In April 1917 he was wounded for the third time after being hit by gunshots to the hand and face. After completing Officer Cadet course, Luetchford received his commission as an officer on 2 August 1917 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the 48th Battalion. Nine months later on 3 May 1918, at the age of 26, he was wounded for the fourth time, this time fatally.