After German forces arrived in North Africa, Leakey's regiment was sent to form part of the garrison at Tobruk in April 1941. Despite constant attacks from the German Afrika Korps that was besieging Tobruk, Leakey grew bored of garrison life; although by then a temporary captain, he volunteered to serve as a private soldier with the &lt;a href="2/23rd%20Battalion%20%28Australia%29"&gt;2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion&lt;/a&gt; for three months. He was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross for actions of 9 August 1941, while serving with the Australians: he is believed to be the only captain in the British Army serving as a lance corporal in the Australian army to win the MC. His exploits were later recounted by "The Victor" comic in the 1960s.