About William Leggatt
Lived 1894 – 1968 (aged 73). William Leggatt was an Australian politician and barrister.
Sir William Watt Leggatt, (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 the Second World War, 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.
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Important facts
People in William Leggatt's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was William Leggatt?
Australian politician, lawyer and soldier
When was William Leggatt born?
William Leggatt was born on 23 December 1894 in Malakula Island.
When did William Leggatt die?
William Leggatt died on 27 November 1968 in Heidelberg.
What was William Leggatt's occupation?
William Leggatt was a politician and barrister.
What nationality was William Leggatt?
William Leggatt was Australian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Leggatt. https://biography.guide/william-leggatt/
MLA: "William Leggatt." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-leggatt/.
Chicago: "William Leggatt." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-leggatt/.
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