Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

He served in both the South African (Boer) war and WW1. In the Boer war he served with 3 different contingents. First service was as a Veterinary Lieutenant with the 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Second service was as Veterinary Captain (Supernumerary) with the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Third service was as a Captain, Veterinary Officer, with the 7th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, Boer War. Fourth service was as a Captain with the 7th Infantry Brigade Headquarters (later Australian Remount Unit), Australian Army Veterinary Corps, AIF, WW1.

In 1900 when he was appointed to the 4th QIB and entered on the original nominal roll for the 4th Queensland Contingent, held by National Archives, his N.O.K. was recorded as Mrs. McLeod (his mother), Wood St, West End. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 4th QIB, Bk 1 p. 31, it was noted he directed part of his pay to his sister Miss Blane R. R. McLeod, later changed to his brother Thomas McLeod, Balmoral, West End.

When he enlisted again in 1915 he noted on his Application for a Commission, dated 28 May 1915 that; he was born on 1 Apr 1877, he was single and living at "Whitecliffe", Clayfield, Brisbane, his N.O.K. was Thomas McLeod, Barrister, Brisbane, and he had previously served in 3 contingents in the Boer war.

John McLeod was born on 1 Apr 1877 at Brisbane, a son to Thomas McLeod and Blane McLeod (nee Robertson). He did his formal schooling at the Brisbane Grammar School where his father was the headmaster. He then did his Diploma at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London. It appears he never married.

When he passed in 1924 obituaries/letters were published in Queensland newspapers with the following being a partial extract of one of those.

Personalities: Obituary - The Queenslander, 17 May 1924, p. 10.

In a letter to the secretary of the B.G.S. Old Boys' Association (Mr. J. G. Nowlan), Major T. McLeod. O.B.E., now of Barena station, near Longreach, gives particulars of the death of his brother, Captain John McLeod, M.R.C.V.S., Lond. The late Captain McLeod, who was an old boy of the Brisbane Grammar School, served in the Boer War, in which he won the King's and Queen's medals, with five clasps, and also in the Great War. After his return from active service he suffered much from chest trouble, owing to which he was forced to give up the practice of his profession in New Zealand and come to the Stanthorpe district. He had been there only a week, however, when he was taken suddenly ill on May 3, and died at midnight. The funeral took place at Longreach last Monday....

The deceased joined up in the Great War in 1914 as veterinary officer, and took a shipment of horses to Egypt. He returned to Brisbane, and left again with the 7th Infantry Brigade. While he was in Egypt his left foot was badly smashed, leaving him lame.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 479, 493 and 530; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 4th Queensland Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 1; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier for 3rd service; Qld State Archives Boer War Service Paybooks 4th QIB, Bk 1 p. 31 and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 35; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).