John Leak

John Leak: A Quiet Hero with a Daring Past

Imagine a quiet man, John Leak, whose life was anything but ordinary. Enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in 1915, he found himself in some of World War I’s most brutal battles.

The Gallipoli Campaign and Beyond

John Leak served with the 9th Battalion, a unit that saw action at the Gallipoli Campaign. Despite contracting dysentery, he was evacuated but later returned to the front lines. His journey took him to the Western Front in France and Belgium, where he participated in the Battle of Pozières.

The Battle of Pozières: A Turning Point

During this pivotal battle, Leak’s actions were nothing short of heroic. On July 24th, 1916, his battalion was tasked with capturing a trench. Leak charged into a German machine gun post and killed or wounded several enemy soldiers before being wounded himself. His bravery earned him the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest military decoration awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Awarded and Charged

The VC citation praised Leak’s bravery and energy in capturing the trench despite overwhelming numbers of enemy soldiers. After recovering from his wounds, he was evacuated to a hospital in the UK. On November 4th, 1916, King George V invested him with the VC.

A Troubled Soldier’s Journey

Leak faced several challenges during and after the war. In January 1917, he was charged for entering the Sergeants’ Mess and demanding a drink, disobeying his regimental sergeant major. He was convicted and underwent fourteen days of detention.

Absent Without Leave

Leak’s troubles continued as he went absent without leave multiple times. In February 1917, he was arrested for going AWOL again and received a fine. By October 1917, he returned to the Western Front but struggled with combat-related trauma.

The Battle of Broodseinde

Leak fought in several battles, including Broodseinde, where his unit was gassed during a bombardment. He medically evacuated himself and did not return to Australia before the Armistice on November 11th, 1918.

A New Life in Australia

After the war, Leak married Beatrice May Chapman in December 1918 and sailed for Australia with her in 1919. He attended a reception in his honour but declined to speak about his experiences. He spent time working in regional New South Wales before moving to remote mid-north South Australia.

A Life of Quiet Reflection

Leak found work boring wells and later married Ada Victoria Bood-Smith, with whom he had eight children. His war experiences weighed heavily on him, and he was reluctant to talk about them for many years. He shared some of his experiences later in life, remembering dead comrades and those he had killed.

Health and Legacy

Leak suffered from bronchitis and emphysema caused by gas poisoning in 1918. In 1953, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. Ada died suddenly in 1964, and two years later, a fake VC with his name surfaced.

John Leak’s Legacy

Leak passed away on October 20th, 1972, at Redwood Park, and was buried alongside Ada in Stirling cemetery. A street is named after him in Gallipoli Barracks, and the John Leak monument was unveiled in Rockhampton in 2012 to honor his bravery.

Condensed Infos to John Leak

John Leak’s story is a testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who served in World War I. His quiet life after the war belies the incredible bravery he displayed on the battlefield, making him a true hero.