Background
Harry Fulton McLeod was born September 14, 1871 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to Jane F. Squires and Joseph McLeod. According to the 1891 census, Harry had four siblings named Ida, Norman, Jennie, and Myrna. The family was well known in the area and resided in a home near Carleton and Charlotte Street as their father, Dr. Reverend Joseph McLeod, was the Pastor of the George Street Free Baptist Church (later the Grace Memorial United Baptist Church) for 26 years in Fredericton. Although specific details of Harry’s early childhood are difficult to find, records show that he was well-educated and attended the Old Fredericton Grammar School. According to the Daily Gleaner, he was known to be a very athletic young man having been involved in many sports including rugby, baseball, boxing, and curling. After finishing school, Harry attended the University of New Brunswick in 1891 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, was recipient of the Stanley Gold Medal, and later joined Judge George Gregory’s office to study law. Prior to the outbreak of war in 1914, Harry worked tirelessly as a politician, lawyer, and military leader. Although not elected as a Member of Parliament until 1913, Harry had been active politically early in his career becoming a political candidate for the first time in 1903, later becoming mayor of Fredericton, and then promoted to Provincial Secretary for New Brunswick in 1911. His military experience was just as impressive during this time, as he became the youngest to reach to rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the local militia, the 71st Regiment.
Although leading a busy life Harry met a young woman named Ina Florence Mersereau, originally from Bathurst, and together they married December 30, 1908. They had three children named Jean, Norman, and Mary, and lived at 488 Charlotte Street. Prior to the war, Harry was very active with the 71st Regiment as Lieutenant Colonel. According to newspapers, he had been invited overseas a few times by Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia, on behalf of the government. At the time he signed his formal attestation paper at Surrey Camp in England, December 23, 1914, Lt. Col. Harry Fulton McLeod was described as standing six foot one inches tall while having a dark complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes. He was forty-three years old. On September 22, Harry had already received his command by King George to the rank of Lt. Col. with the 12th Battalion.
Wartime Experience
Given his rank at the time, Lt. Col. McLeod’s service record does not have all the details of his military experience formally recorded as many soldiers did at the time. As a result, while we know that he was in England by December 1914 with the 12th Battalion, details of how he arrived are not illustrated in the military record. However, in looking at newspapers from the time we see that letters he had written home suggest that he had gone overseas aboard the S.S. Scotian in early October after having been at Valcartier Camp as part of the first Canadian contingent when war broke out. By November 1914 Lt. Col. McLeod was at Pond Farm Camp in Salisbury Plain, England, where he took up important diplomatic, administrative, and training duties over the winter of 1914-1915.
Like many soldiers dealing with the harsh conditions of England that first year, although a high-ranking officer, Harry’s overseas experience would largely center around a variety of illnesses and ailments due to the environment, his age, as well as a combination of limited supplies and medicines. Although arriving in France June 6, 1915 with the 12th Reserve Battalion just after the Battle of Festubert and during Givenchy, his time in the field was limited to six months. By December 14, 1915, while in the field, Harry developed pneumonia and returned to Folkestone, England where he received treatment over the early months of 1916. News of his condition as “dangerously ill” was reported in local papers where his sickness caused “tremendous anxiety among his large circle of friends”. His condition would leave him so debilitated that by April of 1916 the medical board debated whether he was fit for duty; however, they eventually discharged him a month later for duty in England. It would not last long as Harry again was re-admitted with pneumonia in the late fall of 1916. Realizing that his condition was not going to improve, doctors discharged him to Canada in July of 1917 after he failed to respond to treatment. Although he survived part of the war and was returning home to family, his battle with continuous illness as a result of his service was just beginning.
In 1918, his mother, Jane, passed away. Newspapers at the time reported that in his final years, continuously battling pneumonia, his health greatly interfered with his public activities and that he felt trapped as a person. Two and a half years after the war was over, in January 1921, Harry’s condition worsened, and this time he was unable to recover. He passed away January 7, 1921 at the age of 50. News of his death spread across the province and country as condolences poured in to family. As thousands flocked to his funeral, the municipal government took it upon themselves to put forth a resolution in council to make their sincere sympathies a matter of public record reflected in the minutes: “Whereas, we have learned with great regret of the death last night of Colonel Harry F. McLeod…be it resolved that this council place on record an expression of its regret at the great loss sustained by the county of York and extend to the family its sincere sympathy in their bereavement. The Council also desires to record its appreciation of the valuable public services rendered by Colonel McLeod as a patriotic and public-spirited citizen. For many years he held a prominent place in the military and political life of the Province and his death will be a distinct loss to the whole community”. Lieutenant Colonel McLeod’s funeral was one of the largest military funerals ever held in the city.
Lest We Forget
Lieutenant Colonel Harry McLeod is buried with honour at the Forest Hill Cemetery, located in Fredericton, New Brunswick.