Memory Project Archive
William John "Danny" McLeod (Primary Source)
In 2010, The Memory Project interviewed William John “Danny” McLeod, a veteran of the Second World War. The following recording (and transcript) is an excerpt from this interview. Born on 5 November 1921 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, McLeod enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1939 at the age of 18. After training at camps across Canada, he served overseas in Europe with the South Alberta Regiment. In 1942, he became the first Canadian posted to Sandhurst Military Academy and in 1945, he was awarded a Military Cross for “exemplary gallantry.” After the war, McLeod served with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in Indochina and Europe. In 1960, he was posted to the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, where he became the college’s first athletic director. McLeod served in the Canadian armed forces until 1971, retiring at the rank of major. He was also involved with Canadian Interuniversity Sport and the National Hockey League. McLeod died on 14 January 2014 in Kingston. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
