Arthur Leggett
Ex-Prisoner of War
Ex-Prisoner of War
Arthur Leggett was a private in the Australian Army during World War II. He served as signaller with 2/11th Battalion Australian Imperial Force in North Africa and Crete from 1940-1941. He spent time in Gaza, Palestine, and at Tobruk.
He was captured by the Germans in Greece when German paratroopers invaded Crete in 1941 and transported by cattle truck to Stalag VII A in Moosburg, Germany as a prisoner of war. He spent 18 months in Munich and the remainder in a Polish coal mine at Dombrova where he worked as a slave labourer in the coal mines.
As the war was ending, in the winter of 1945, Arthur was marched into Bavaria, by the Germans, before being liberated by American troops. Of the journey, Arthur describes, "We were marched right across Europe, right down through the Czechoslovakian Alps back into Bavaria, this went on for 780 kilometres and there was no set plan for food or anything, you just subsisted on what you could scrounge from farmers on the way."
Upon returning to Australia, he worked as a welder in a shipping company, but found it difficult to return to Australian life. He did however, find comfort in working with his fellow prisoners of war, and has been involved since the Ex-POW Association was established nationally in 1951. He was appointed WA President in about 1996, a position he still holds.
In 2004, the Queen's Birthday honours awarded Arthur and OAM "For service to veterans and their families through the Ex-Prisoners of War Association of WA, and to the community."
Arthur's connection with the school started when the school adopted the Ex-Prisoners of War Association Memorial in Kings Park in 1996.
Since 2007, when he was invited to speak at his first school assembly, Arthur has become a regular feature at our school assemblies and memorial services.
Always ready to share a laugh, and of his experiences as a prisoner of war, Arthur has dedicated much of his time to honouring his fellow servicemen and women and their sacrifice, even into his late 90's.
He sponsors an annual poetry prize at the school and has published his autobiography and poetry.
His speeches have been a welcome part of our school functions for over 20 years, and Arthur has a similar role at a number of other schools and community groups. He is a gentleman, a larrikan, and an honoured part of our broader school community.