James Kenneth MacLeod (18 August 1890 – 8 April 1940) was an Australian rules footballer who played with University in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2007).
Family The son of James MacLeod (1859-1938),Deaths: MacLeod, The Argus, (Monday, 20 June 1938), p.8. and Hughina Walker MacLeod (1860-1920), née McCallum, James Kenneth MacLeod was born at Warrnambool, Victoria on 18 August 1890.
He married Freda May Potter in 1922.
Education MacLeod was educated at the Hawthorn College, and at the University of Melbourne.Roll of Service Overseas 1914–1918: Roll of the Returned: MacLeod, James Kenneth 1910, The University of Melbourne Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants in the European War, 1914–1918, University of Melbourne, (Melbourne), 1926, p.191.The operation of the Hawthorn College, a private institution founded by George Swinburne, MLA in 1908 – also known as the Eastern Suburbs Technical College, Glenferrie – was taken over by the State government in 1913, and the institution was renamed the Swinburne Technical College: Technical Education: The Hawthorn College: State Control, The Herald, (Tuesday, 29 October 1912), p.1.
B.Mech.E. While studying mechanical engineering at the University of Melbourne, he gained a "blue" in football.
His degree, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (B.Mech.E.) was conferred upon him, in absentia, on 23 December 1919.Conferring of Degrees, The Herald, (Tuesday, 23 December 1919), p.6.
Football He played 54 games and scored 33 goals over four seasons (1910 to 1913) with Melbourne University Football Club in the VFL. "A rover, McLeod (sic) was regarded as a tremendous goal-sneak and undoubtedly was one of the Students' most accomplished players.Main & Allen (2002), p.294.
Military service He served in the Australian Navy in World War I,Promotions and Transfers, The Argus, (Monday, 20 March 1916), p.7. and later moved to England.
In World War II he worked for the British war office, before he got a commission in the Royal Navy.
Death He was killed in the sinking of HMS Glowworm (H92) in the Norwegian Sea on 8 April 1940.
Although initially "presumed killed in action", a note on his service record (dated 1 May 1940) reports: "Not included in published list of "Glowworm" casualties Admiralty having unconfirmed report that he may be prisoner of war." A further note (dated 6 October 1942) reports: "Death on April 8th 1940 now presumed."
He has no known grave. He is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.Engineering Lieutenant Commander James Kenneth Macleod, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Footnotes
References
Main, J. & Allen, D., "McLeod (sic), Ken", pp. 294–295 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. Service Record: James Kenneth MacLeod (d.o.b. 18 August 1890), National Archives of Australia. Roll of Honour: Engineering Lieutenant Commander James Kenneth Macleod, Australian War Memorial.
External links
Ken MacLeod, at Boyles Football Photos.