The article suggests that he was born in Queensland. Although they are described as being well-known in these Welsh places, the article says that he could not find those who knew them. The newspaper stated that he claimed his parents were originally from Wales (his mother from Mountain Ash, his father a ‘Bryn Mawr man’), and that they moved to New South Wales. at Buckingham Palace in 1916 the Cardiff Times ran an article 11 November 1916. We would like compelling evidence in records or testimony of his true origin. None of what he said or what was reported about his origins has been verified. Whether this inconsistency is due to deception or incorrect reporting we do not know. In various interviews he provided different places of birth. Portsmouth, Hampshire claims him because his enlistment papers record his birth there. Queensland has claimed John Leak as its first V.C. (He had originally given his brother, George, in Saskatchewan, Canada, as his next of kin on his enlistment papers, but later that was changed to ‘Miss May Chapman’ of 62 Bridge Street, Cardiff.) The Cardiff Times 4 January 1919 publicised the marriage with details about the couple and John Leak’s background. He married Beatrice May Chapman in Cardiff, Wales on 30 December 1918. Documents relating to his war records and marriage to Beatrice May Chapman may be viewed at their site The National Archives of Australia has digitised his records, showing he enlisted on 28 January 1915 in Rockhampton, Queensland. ![]() John Leak (2053) was awarded the VC for extraordinary courage at Pozieres France 23 July 1916. Despite the amount recorded about his pre-war background in newspapers, books and on the Internet, it is inconsistent and without proof. ![]() Private John Leak was the first Queenslander to be awarded the Victoria Cross in 1916. Guest bloggers: Ron Siebenhausen and Tom McVeigh Private John Leak VC, of the 9th Battalion surrounded by family and friends outside Buckingham Palace on the occasion of being awarded the Victoria Cross.
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