David McLeod

Died While Sleep Walking

On 3rd July 1936, the body of David Reid McLeod was found in a yard behind the Leviathan Hotel in Manners Street. He was dressed in his pyjamas and was found by an employee of the shop owner next door. Dr C.D. Henry gave evidence that he had examined the body and thought death would have been instantaneous and that there was no evidence of foul play.

A letter from David’s nephew read at the inquest said that he had shared a bedroom with his uncle on a few occasions and described several instances of somnambulism. One time he had to pull David back from a window. David never remembered anything after these incidents.

David had been staying at the Leviathan Hotel on and off for the previous 12 months and the proprietor described him as a quiet type. The window to the bathroom in his room was always left open. According to Dr Henry, it would be possible for David to climb over the bathtub and reach the window without waking up. A coroner’s verdict of death while sleep walking was returned.

David was 50 years old and was a WWI veteran. He had been on active service for practically the whole length of WWI. He was born in Gympie, Australia and at the time of enlisting was a barman in Motueka. He joined the Main Body of New Zealand Forces with the rank of Corporal. He was among the first to land at Gallipoli and served there until evacuated. He was wounded in France and sent back to England where he served with the special military police until the Armistice. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He was buried in the Services section at Karori Cemetery with full military honours.

Karori Cemetery Plot: Soldiers/LL/6

References:

Obituary Corporal D. R. McLeod. (1936, July 8). Nelson Evening Mail, p4.
Walking in Sleep. (1936, July 7). Evening Post, p11.
Wellington Tragedy Fall From Window. (1936, July 4). Wairarapa Daily Times, p5.

Intersection of Willis Street with Manners Street 1934-36. The Leviathan Hotel would likely be one of the buildings on the far left hand side of the photo.

"Perrett's Corner", Wellington. New Zealand Railways :Assorted photographs. Ref: 1/2-023764-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23155651

David Reid McLeod headstone courtesy of FindaGrave.