LEASK, John
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry |
| Born: | Ellon, Aberdeen, Scotland , 1 February 1865 |
| Home Town: | Bundaberg, Bundaberg, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Spring Creek (Clifton) State School & Leichhardt Street Boys State School, Queensland |
| Occupation: | Farmer and Commission Agent |
| Died: | Died of wounds & pneumonia, Pretoria, 20 August 1900, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
Church Street Cemetery, Pretoria, South Africa Grave 256. |
| Memorials: | Anzac Square Boer War Memorial |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, Officer, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, Officer, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, Ship- Duke of Portland | |
| 22 Jul 1900: | Wounded Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, Officer, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, Relief of Mafeking, W.I.A. in Koster River skirmish. | |
| 20 Aug 1900: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, Officer, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, Died from wounds and disease. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
John LEASK was born in Ellon, Aberdeen on 1st February, 1865
His parents were John LEASK & Christina COBBAN
He served for 5 years with the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders
He had migrated to Maryborough (Queensland) in 1888 & later moved to Bundaberg
Biography contributed by Maurice Kissane
John LEASK late of Aberdeen, married Lousia Batstone of Bundburg in Bundaberg on 5th October 1893. He was 28 years old.
Their wedding ceremony was conducted by the Reverent J. McKenzie from the Bundaburg Presbyterian Church.
Their official wedding notification was published in the Bundaburg Mail on 11 October 1893.
LT John LEASK 3QMI was 35 years old and married for less than seven years when he died on active service.
He contacted pneumonia after being WIA at Koster River on 22 July 1900. John later died in Hospital at Pretoria on 20 August 1900.
Mum's grandad was in the same action at Koster River in which John was wounded. That was a Boer ambush.
The wounded however were more vulnerable to the compications of contracting disease. For this was an era before antibiotics and modern medicine.
John was a married man in his mid thirties. He could have avoided active service but he did not. He saw it as his duty to both his Queen and her Empire to serve overseas. His sense of duty ultimately cost him his life.
Lest We Forget.
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