Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The youngest of seven children, Ian was born in Dongara WA in 1923 to Angus McLeod (b1876 in Warwick QLD) and Mabel Victoria Collins (nee Bryans; b1879 in London, England). Angus (a Labourer) and Mabel (a Widow) married in 1910 in Greenough WA. Angus had moved to WA in the mid 1890s, and Mabel emigrated in1907, arriving in Fremantle WA on board the Oruba. Angus and Mabel lived in Greenough and Mount Magnet before settling in  Bockara - a small settlement on the Geraldton - Dongara railway line where Angus was a Share Farmer. In the 1950s they moved to Perth WA

Ian started work in 1938 as a Station Hand at Mt Farmer near Mt Magnet, and in October 1941 enlisted in the ACMF (Private; Service No:W42840). He said 'In the army, whether there is a war on or not, you do a lot of waiting' (Ian McLeod: Chance and Challenge; p23). He was attached to 11 Battalion (WA) VDC when he Discharged in February 1943 to enlist in the RAAF. Ian served as a Leading Aircraftman (Service NO:436558) - where he learned to fly Tiger Moths, became a Boxer and was in Tarakan in 1945 - and learned that his brother Malcolm had left just the day before. Ian was attached to 75 Squadron when he was Discharged in January 1946. Brothers Malcolm (Service No:WX2484) and Heath (Service No:WX32783) also served in WWII.

Following his Discharge, Ian returned to Mt Farmer and worked as a Station hand, then worked on a mine at Mt Magnet before going to Perth WA where he completed a carpentry course. In 1949 in Perth WA Ian married Doreen (Dawn) Louise Riches (b1923 in Perth WA) - Dawn was a Typist. In 1954 Ian joined the WA Police Force, where he served until November 1983. He also purchased a Delicatessan in 1963 - 'Langley Park Store' and held down two jobs. Dawn died in 2011 and Ian in 2015. Ian's biography - Ian McLeod: Chance and Challenge - by Patrick Cornish - provides numerous anecdotes about Ian's life and many photographs. Ian said (p67) 'I don't know why anyone would want to read about my life'.