Allora World War I - John Leak VC
"This plaque commemorates that Queensland's first V.C. winner John Leak
Private 2053, 9th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division awarded for bravery at Pozieres, France 23-7-1916
was a soldier settler on portion 179, 182, and 184, The Commonage, Berat 1919–1920."
(Berat is approximately 15kms from Allora)
Leak migrated to Australia from England before World War One, and was a teamster at Rockhampton, Queensland.
He enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force on 28 January 1915 and embarked with the 5th Reinforcements for the 9th Battalion on the transport Kyarra, joining his unit on 22 June at Gallipoli. Early in 1916 the battalion was posted to the Western Front and disembarked at Marseilles bound for northern France to engage in the Somme offensive in July. The village of Pozières on the Amiens-Bapaume highway on a ridge overlooking the Somme was a vital objective of the allies and was taken after four days of savage fighting. The 1st Australian Division, flanked by British divisions, and with the 9th Battalion spearheading its attack, moved towards Pozières on 22 July. Next day Leak was one of a party ordered to capture a German strong-point which was holding up the battalion's advance. His party became pinned down in an old German trench by heavy machine-gun fire. Their grenades were outranged by the Germans' superior 'egg' bombs. Leak dashed from cover and, under heavy fire, ran towards the enemy post, hurling three grenades to great effect.
Later in this engagement his party was driven back. Leak was the last to withdraw at each stage, hurling bombs to cover his companions' retreat. By the time reinforcements arrived his courage and energy had done much to weaken the enemy's defence and the post was taken again. For 'conspicuous bravery' he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was wounded on 21 August 1916 at Mouquet Farm and rejoined the 9th Battalion on 15 October 1917. On 7 March 1918 he was severely gassed at Hollebeke, Belgium, and was unable to resume duty until 26 June.
After the war Leake lived in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. In WA he became a mechanic and garage proprietor. He finally settled at Crafers, South Australia. On 20 October 1972 he died and was buried in the Stirling cemetery, in the Adelaide Hills.
Ref: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, (MUP), 1986.
Allora World War I - John Leak VC
"This plaque commemorates that Queensland's first V.C. winner John Leak
Private 2053, 9th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division awarded for bravery at Pozieres, France 23-7-1916
was a soldier settler on portion 179, 182, and 184, The Commonage, Berat 1919–1920."
(Berat is approximately 15kms from Allora)
Leak migrated to Australia from England before World War One, and was a teamster at Rockhampton, Queensland.
He enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force on 28 January 1915 and embarked with the 5th Reinforcements for the 9th Battalion on the transport Kyarra, joining his unit on 22 June at Gallipoli. Early in 1916 the battalion was posted to the Western Front and disembarked at Marseilles bound for northern France to engage in the Somme offensive in July. The village of Pozières on the Amiens-Bapaume highway on a ridge overlooking the Somme was a vital objective of the allies and was taken after four days of savage fighting. The 1st Australian Division, flanked by British divisions, and with the 9th Battalion spearheading its attack, moved towards Pozières on 22 July. Next day Leak was one of a party ordered to capture a German strong-point which was holding up the battalion's advance. His party became pinned down in an old German trench by heavy machine-gun fire. Their grenades were outranged by the Germans' superior 'egg' bombs. Leak dashed from cover and, under heavy fire, ran towards the enemy post, hurling three grenades to great effect.
Later in this engagement his party was driven back. Leak was the last to withdraw at each stage, hurling bombs to cover his companions' retreat. By the time reinforcements arrived his courage and energy had done much to weaken the enemy's defence and the post was taken again. For 'conspicuous bravery' he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was wounded on 21 August 1916 at Mouquet Farm and rejoined the 9th Battalion on 15 October 1917. On 7 March 1918 he was severely gassed at Hollebeke, Belgium, and was unable to resume duty until 26 June.
After the war Leake lived in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. In WA he became a mechanic and garage proprietor. He finally settled at Crafers, South Australia. On 20 October 1972 he died and was buried in the Stirling cemetery, in the Adelaide Hills.
Ref: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, (MUP), 1986.