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He was 25 and the son of George McLeod [1865-27.03.1929] and Sarah Louisa McLeod, [nee Fleay] 1871-22.07.1898 of Katanning, Western Australia; husband of F. B. McLeod.

Just a few weeks after being wounded in battle in France, Albert was a guest of Mr and Mrs J R Gregg of Lancashire at Glaisters in Kirkcudbrightshire where Mr Gregg was the shooting tenant. They were out shooting on the moors when Mrs Gregg handed a loaded gun to Albert who caught the trigger with his hand. The charge struck him in the head behind the right ear and he fell dead instantly. Albert had been married for only a year and his widow lived in Australia.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Albert McLeod was born at Katanning, Western Australia on 14th January, 1891 to parents George and Sarah Louise McLeod (nee Lilly)

Sarah Louise McLeod, mother of Albert McLeod, died in 1898.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 21st September, 1914 at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia as a 23 year old, single, Pearler. Albert McLeod stated on his Attestation Papers that he had served with Cadets at Secondary School as Sergeant.

Private Albert McLeod, Service number 366, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 22nd December, 1914 with the 16th Infantry Battalion, “D” Company.

He proceeded to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) at Gallipoli on 12th April, 1915 & landed at Anzac on 25th April, 1915.

On 2nd May, 1915 Private Albert McLeod was mentioned in Despatches & recommended for D.S.O.

Private Albert McLeod received a G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to wrist in May, 1915.  He was admitted to Hospital at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli. (Note: A statement of Service form records that Private Albert McLeod was wounded in forearm on 2nd May, 1915 at Pope’s Hill, Anzac & he returned to duty on 9th May, 1915.)

He was promoted to Corporal on 13th May, 1915.

Corporal McLeod was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant vice Lieutenant C. H. Geddes killed at Gallipoli. His promotion was to date from 19th July, 1915.

On 5th September, 1915 2nd Lieutenant Albert McLeod reported sick at Gallipoli. He was admitted to 4th Field Ambulance on 5th September, 1915 then transferred to 13th Casualty Clearing Station with Enteritis.  He was transferred to Hospital Ship Salta with Dysentry & dental issues on 6th September, 1915. 

He was admitted to No. 2 General Hospital at Cairo on 7th September, 1915 with Rheumatism & was discharged to Base Details on 20th October, 1915. 2nd Lieutenant McLeod embarked from Alexandria on H.T. Borda on 22nd October, 1915 to rejoin his Unit. He rejoined his Unit at Mudros on 28th October, 1915.

Mr George McLeod, Katanning, Western Australia, was advised on 8th November, 1915 that his son – Second Lieutenant A. McLeod was convalescent in Hospital but was not fit for duty.

2nd Lieutenant McLeod disembarked at Alexandria on 3rd January, 1916 (after evacuation from Gallipoli).

On 20th January, 1916 2nd Lieutenant McLeod was promoted to Lieutenant.

Albert McLeod married Florance Beatrice Cook on 3rd March, 1916 at Garrison Chapel, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt. Florance Beatrice Cook was a trained nurse from Perth Public Hospital & was serving with the 1st Australian General Hospital in Egypt.

Lieutenant Albert McLeod was promoted to Captain on 12th March, 1916.

On 1st June, 1916 Captain McLeod proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) from Alexandria & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 9th June, 1916.  

Captain Albert McLeod was wounded in action in France on 30th August, 1916. He was admitted to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 30th August, 1916 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to upper extremities and head then transferred to Ambulance Train on 31st August, 1916. (The Casualty Form – Active Service has a record which was crossed out but reads “12th Field Ambulance – bullet to r. forearm, to 44th C.C.S. on 30th August, 1916).  Captain McLeod was admitted to 7th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France on 1st September, 1916 with GSW to forearm. He was transferred to England on 4th September, 1916 on Hospital Ship St. David. Captain Albert McLeod, having been evacuated wounded on 30th August, 1916, was placed on Seconded List in France.

He was admitted to 4th London General Hospital on 4th September, 1916 with a wound to elbow & fractured arm.

A Medical Board was convened on 8th September, 1916 relating to Captain A. Macleod, 16th Battalion, at the 4th London General Hospital & regarding his disability of G.S.W to right arm. The injury occurred at Mouquet Farm on 29th August, 1916 – “during a charge was hit in right elbow by machine gun bullet which passed right through arm. Carried to a dressing station, wounds were opened up at Puichvilliers. Wounds septic, some pyrexia, large wounds in front of elbow and small one at back, fracture of head of ulna.”  The Board recommended that Captain McLeod was not fit for General Service for 12 weeks.

Mr George McLeod, Katanning, Western Australia, was advised on 20th September, 1916  that his son – Captain Albert McLeod had been wounded – second occasion. Mr George McLeod was advised on 27th September, 1916 that his son had been admitted to 4th London General Hospital with gunshot wound & fractured arm.

Another Medical Board was convened & the outcome in October, 1916 was found that Captain A. McLeod may be incapacitated for military duty for more than 6 months. Although the wound was healed “there is limited movement of the joint. He has motor & sensory paralysis of the musculo-spiral nerve.”

Mrs F. B. McLeod, of Charles Street, Northam, Western Australia, wife of Captain Albert McLeod, wrote to the Military Authorities in October, 1916 stating that she had received a cable from her husband – Captain Albert McLeod, “C” Coy, 16th Battalion, A.I.F. telling her he was wounded & in hospital in London & since that date had “heard absolutely nothing of him”. Base Records replied to Mrs F. B. McLeod in November, 1915 stating that Captain A. McLeod was admitted to 4th London General Hospital on 4th September, 1916 suffering from a gunshot wound, fractured arm. Base Records also stated that Captain McLeod had joined the A.I.F. as a single man & recorded his father as next-of-kin & if she wished to be recorded on his records then she would need to forward the Certificate of Marriage.

He was admitted to King’s College Hospital at Camberwell, England – undated.

Captain Albert McLeod was accidentally killed on 5th December, 1916 at Glaisters Lodge, Corsock, Dalbeattie, Scotland as a result of a gun accident whilst shooting. He was awaiting transport back to Australia as he had been appointed as Instructional Staff in Melbourne while recovering from his wounds.

He was buried on 9th December, 1916 in Corsock United Free Churchyard, Parton, Scotland – south-west of the Church. He has a private headstone but his death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

[A son, Frederick Albert McLeod, was born on 28th December, 1916 at Charles Street, Northam, Western Australia to the late Albert & Florence McLeod.]

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/corsock.html