William Leggatt
| Sir William Leggatt DSO, MC | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Mornington | |
| In office 8 November 1947 – 3 February 1956 | |
| Preceded by | Alfred Kirton |
| Succeeded by | Roberts Dunstan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 December 1894 Malekula, New Hebrides |
| Died | 27 November 1968 (aged 73) Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia |
| Resting place | Springvale Botanical Cemetery |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal and Country Party |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Meares Andrews (m. 1926) |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Profession | Barrister and solicitor |
| Awards | Military Cross (1918) Distinguished Service Order |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1919, 1941–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-colonel |
| Commands | 2/40th Battalion Sparrow Force |
Sir William Watt Leggatt, DSO, MC (23 December 1894 – 27 November 1968) was an Australian soldier, lawyer and politician. He served as commanding officer of the 2/40th Battalion and later Sparrow Force during World War II, fighting in Timor against the Japanese invasion in 1942. He was captured by the Japanese and sent to Changi prison in Singapore. Following the war, he was based in Melbourne in charge of war crimes investigation until 1946. In 1948 he was elected to the Victorian parliament. He died in 1968 and was accorded a state funeral.
References
- Leggatt, Sir William Watt (Bill) (1894 – 1968) - Australian Dictionary of Biography
| Victorian Legislative Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alfred Kirton |
Member for Mornington 1947–1956 |
Succeeded by Roberts Dunstan |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by John Lienhop |
Agent-General for Victoria 1956–1964 |
Succeeded by Horace Petty |