Poignant tribute to life of ‘gentle, humble’ former POW

A riderless horse will lead a poignant tribute ahead of a state funeral for one of the nation’s last World War II prisoners of war.

Arthur Leggett, who died on April 6 at the age of 106, will be honoured with a military procession in Perth on Saturday.

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”.

A riderless horse will lead the march and the tenor bell at St George’s Cathedral will toll 106 times before falling silent as the state funeral begins.

The horse, led by a handler, will have reversed boots in the stirrups, indicating the rider has died.

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, Ms 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.