James Edgar Leach VC

Name: James Edgar Leach

Conflict: First World War

Gazetted: December 22, 1914

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: North Shields, Northumberland/July 27, 1892

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Second Lieutenant (later Captain)

Date of bravery: October 29, 1914

London Gazette citation [joint citation]:

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to Second Lieutenant James Leach, and to No. 9016 Serjeant John Hogan, 2nd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, for their conspicuous bravery, specified below:—

For conspicuous bravery near Festubert on 29th October, when, after their trench had been taken by the Germans, and after two attempts at recapture had failed, they voluntarily decided on the afternoon of the same day to recover the trench themselves, and, working from traverse to traverse at close quarters with great bravery, they gradually succeeded in regaining possession, killing eight of the enemy, wounding two, and making sixteen prisoners.

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Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Shepherd’s Bush, London/August 15, 1958

Grave/memorial: Mortlake Crematorium, London

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2008

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum