Western Australia prepares for state funeral for World War II prisoner of war Arthur Leggett

Article Summary

Arthur Leggett, the last World War II prisoner of war in Western Australia, passed away on April 6 at the age of 106. Mr. Leggett was a survivor of the Lamsdorf Death March to Munich and spent four years in German prisoner of war camps. A state funeral will be held for him, described as a “once in a generation event” by WA Veterans Minister Paul Papalia. Members of the public can view the live broadcast of the funeral on ABC TV and DAB+ Digital Radio from 9:45am.

What This Means for You

• An opportunity to pay tribute to a war hero who endured hardships and dedicated his life to educating children about the experiences of war.
• A reminder of the sacrifices made by war veterans, and the importance of honoring and remembering their contributions.
• A call to reflect on the impact of war on individuals and society, and an invitation to learn more about the Lamsdorf Death March and its impact on soldiers.
• A once in a generation event to witness the final farewell to a war veteran, which can be a learning opportunity for children and adults alike.

Original Post

West Australians will gather on Saturday to commemorate the state’s last World War II prisoner of war, Arthur Leggett, who died on April 6.

A state funeral will be held for Mr Leggett, featuring a riderless horse and the St Georges Cathedral’s tenor bell tolling 106 times.

Members of the public will be able to view a live broadcast of the funeral on ABC TV and DAB+ Digital Radio from 9:45am.

Arthur Leggett was born in Sydney, enlisted in the army in 1936, and was deployed to the Battle of Bardia in 1941.

In 1941, Mr Leggett was deployed to Crete and was captured by German forces after intense fighting.

Mr Leggett was put into Nazi Germany prisoner of war camps, where he was made to work 12-hour days in coal mines and eventually relocated due to Russian advancements.