Businessman.
Born at Dublin, Ireland on 16 October 1894, son of George Leary (1849-1939) and Aramintha Lorrette Ager (1862-1950), he came to Winnipeg with his family in 1896 and later settled at Learys. He attended Brandon College and, at the outset of the First World War in 1914, was one of the first enlistees in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He went overseas with the Fort Garry Horse, later transferring to the 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade. He received the Military Cross and Bar. During the Second World War, he served initially with the Veterans Guard, later transferring to the recruiting staff of Military District No. 10.
In 1947, he reopened the family's brickworks at Learys and operated it successfully for six years until his early death following an injury in March 1953.
On 28 July 1931, he married Edith Jean Fraser (1904-1986) in the RM of Lorne and they had a daughter and four sons.
He died at the Deer Lodge Hospital on 15 March 1953 and was buried in the Altamont Cemetery.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Leary Brickworks (Learys, Municipality of Lorne)
1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
Attestation papers, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.
Marriage registration [William Allen Leary, Edith Jean Fraser], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations [George Leary, Armintha Lorrette Leary], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Re-opening of Leary's brick plant re-establishes district industry,” ???
“Capt. W. A. Leary dies in hospital,” ???
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
We thank Leona Devuyst for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 25 February 2026
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