About Leigh Vial
Lived 1909 – 1943 (aged 34). Leigh Vial was an Australian explorer.
Leigh Grant Vial (28 February 1909 – 30 April 1943) was an Australian patrol officer and coastwatcher in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War. His calm, clear voice earned him the nickname "Man With the Golden Voice".
When war broke out with Japan in late 1941 Vial was an Assistant District Officer stationed in Rabaul.
While a patrol officer he became the first white person to climb Mount Wilhelm, the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea. Vial was killed in a plane crash in 1943, the year after he had been awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross for his "extraordinary heroism" in New Guinea. He is buried in Lae War Cemetery.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Leigh Vial?
Australian explorer
When was Leigh Vial born?
Leigh Vial was born on 28 February 1909 in Camberwell.
When did Leigh Vial die?
Leigh Vial died on 30 April 1943 in Benabena, Papua New Guinea.
What was Leigh Vial's occupation?
Leigh Vial was an explorer.
What nationality was Leigh Vial?
Leigh Vial was Australian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Leigh Vial. https://biography.guide/leigh-vial/
MLA: "Leigh Vial." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/leigh-vial/.
Chicago: "Leigh Vial." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/leigh-vial/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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