Article

John Edwards Leckie

Published Online January 29, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

John Edwards Leckie, "Jack," soldier, mining engineer, explorer (b at Acton-Vale, Qué 19 Feb 1872; d at Port Hope, Ont 7 Aug 1950). He was best known for engineering and research work around Hudson Bay. Leckie was educated at Bishop's, Royal Military College, and King's College.

Leckie, John Edwards

John Edwards Leckie, "Jack," soldier, mining engineer, explorer (b at Acton-Vale, Qué 19 Feb 1872; d at Port Hope, Ont 7 Aug 1950). He was best known for engineering and research work around Hudson Bay. Leckie was educated at Bishop's, Royal Military College, and King's College. He saw service in the South African War and in France in WWI, and was "Malamute Force" commander in the Archangel-Murmansk theatre during the RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR. He developed mines in northern BC and in the Zeballos fields of Vancouver Island, explored (and became involved in revolutions in) Mexico and Venezuela and led a major, though unsuccessful, search for Spanish gold on Cocos Island. He was a press censor in WORLD WAR II. Made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 1928, he received the DSO and the French Croix de Guerre, among other decorations.

See alsoSOLDIERS OF FORTUNE.