By Abe Maddison
One of Australia’s last surviving World War II prisoners of war has been farewelled at a state funeral, where he was remembered as a dedicated, resilient soldier and cherished member of his community.
A riderless horse, symbolising a dead soldier, led the procession down St Georges Terrace, lined with hundreds of people paying their respects, before a service at St George’s Cathedral.
WWII veteran Arthur Leggett at a previous Len Hall Tribute Game.Credit: Fremantle Football Club
Arthur Leggett, who died on April 6 at the age of 106, was honoured with a military procession in Perth on Saturday.
Several items were displayed atop his casket, including his cherished sporran badge, which he kept when surrendering his Highland kit upon joining the WA battalion.
The badge accompanied him throughout his time as a prisoner of war during World War II and he often recalled having to hide it from his German captors to protect the item.
Western Australia Veterans Minister Paul Papalia said it was possibly the only time the public would get to see a military state funeral and “certainly the only time we get to farewell someone of this stature from the Second World War”.
The tenor bell at St George’s Cathedral tolled106 times before falling silent as the state funeral began.
Leggett’s youngest daughter, Sue Meagher, said her father was a remarkable man who had touched many lives.
“He was a hardworking man - very gentle, very humble,” she said.
It was important for young people to understand what previous generations like her father’s did so they could now enjoy freedom, Meagher said.
“When you hear the stories of what some of these older generations went through, they were tough people, they were wonderful, strong men,” she said.
Western Australia’s oldest and last surviving WWII prisoner of war Arthur Leggett will be honoured with a state funeral on Saturday, May 10. Arthur died on April 6, 2025 at 106 years old.
Premier Roger Cook said the state’s last surviving World War II prisoner of war was “a hero whose bravery and contribution to his community will never be forgotten”.
Leggett enlisted for military service in 1936, becoming part of the newly raised Cameron Highlanders of WA, before joining the first World War II Australian Imperial Force unit raised in WA, the 2/11th Battalion, 6th Division.
He trained as a signaller responsible for crucial communications between companies and battalion headquarters in the Middle East, serving with distinction in Libya, Greece, and Crete.
At the age of 22, he was captured by German forces following the Battle of Crete and was a prisoner of war for almost four years, surviving the infamous Lamsdorf Death March.
Leggett dedicated much of his life after the war to highlighting the sacrifices of serving men and women, and was president of the Ex-Prisoners of War Association WA for nearly 30 years.
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