Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: William McLeod
Ancestor's date of birth: 22/07/1879 South Leith, Scotland
Ancestor's date of death: 23/09/1966, NSW
Cause of Death: Old age
Service Number: 105 (NSWMR), 186 (ACH)
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW Place of Enlistment: Sydney
Unit: New South Wales Mounted Rifles and 5Bn Australian Commonwealth Horse
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1902
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Drummer
Murray Page: 34 (NSWMR), 190, (ACH)
Contingent: 1st NSW Contingent
Ship: SS Kent Date of Sailing: 03/11/1899
Ship: Columbian Date of Sailing: 25/05/1902
Memorial details: Detail not provided
Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with 5 clasps.
Personal Characteristics: Fine soldier and musician
Reasons to go and fight: Serving as a drummer and Bugler in the NSW Scottish Rifles.
Details of service in war: The NSWMR fought at Orange River, Paardeberg, Ventersberg road, Johannesberg, Diamond Hill. Private McLeod was invalided back to Australia on 3 November 1900 with Enteric Fever (Typhoid).
Discharged from the New South Wales Mounted Rifles on 7 February 1901, then when fully recovered he joined the 5th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse in early 1902, arriving with the unit in Durban on 18 June 1902. In July, Trooper Mcleod with many other Australians took up the offer to join the South African Constabulary. He served in South Africa as a policeman and a fireman until 1908.
Service and life after the Boer War: Whilst in South Africa he married, and had a daughter Mercia, my mother. He re-joined the Australian Army when he returned in 1908. He was a drummer in 25 Battalion in 1913 (see photo), but did not serve in World War 1 due to the health of his wife. In 1962 as the only surviving member of the NSW Scottish Rifles, he was a special guest at the laying up of the colours of 30 Bn (NSW Scottish Regiment).
Descendant Details
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Name of Descendant: Barbara
Habgood, Sydney NSW
