Public urged to go into city to pay respects at State Funeral for WWII hero Arthur Leggett on Saturday

West Australians have been urged to go into the city on Saturday morning for the Military State Funeral of WWII hero Arthur Leggett. Mr Leggett, who was WA’s oldest and last surviving World War II prisoner of war, died last month, aged 106. On Thursday Premier Roger Cook, Veterans Minister Paul Papalia, the army and Mr Leggett’s family urged West Australians to pay their respects to Mr Leggett in a once in a generation event. Mr Leggett’s youngest daughter Sue Meagher thanked the government and Army for the State funeral. She said her father was a hard working and humble man and a great dad. He would say “what’s all this pomp and ceremony, I was just a simple man,” Ms Meagher said. “He was a remarkable man but to us he was just our dad doing what he does. “Please if you can, come into the city, I think it is so important that children understand what people did for us so that we can live the life we live now,” Ms Meagher said. Mr Cook said Mr Leggett was a hero whose bravery and contribution to his community would never be forgotten. “The service and procession will be a very special event and will provide an opportunity for Western Australians to pay their respects to a man who sacrificed so much for his country,” Mr Cook said. Mr Papalia said that after Mr Leggett’s military service his devotion to his fellow veterans never faded. “The State Funeral will be a once in a generation event and a chance for all of us to honour the extraordinary courage Arthur showed in the darkest of times,” Mr Papalia said. “The freedoms we enjoy today are the result of the sacrifices made by those who served, and I invite the community to come along and pay their respects.” Brigadier Damian Bushell presented the 13th Brigade Challenge Coin to the Leggett family in recognition of Mr Leggett’s service. He said the Military State Funeral was a rare and significant event which would involve about 100 soldiers. From about 9.40am on Saturday a military procession will slowly march from West Perth down St Georges Terrace. The procession will include two guards comprised of soldiers from the Royal Western Australia Regiment, a Bearer Party, Gun Tractor and Carriage as well as the WA Army Band. In a poignant symbol, a riderless horse (from the Western Australian Mounted Police) will lead the march, symbolising a fallen service person. The public are invited to line the St Georges Terrace route from Mill Street and follow the procession after it has passed. The procession will conclude with a RAAF fly over. The St Georges Cathedral tenor bell will toll 106 times. The funeral service will start at 10.30am at the cathedral and will be broadcast live. Seating inside the cathedral is limited to family and official mourners but the public are welcome to watch the live broadcast from the public viewing area in Stirling Gardens (opposite the cathedral). Some road closures will be in place.