Second Lieutenant Grey de Leche Leach Albert Medal
Campaign:
World War 1
Died:
3.9.1916
1SG
Aged 22
He died of wounds received two days after saving his comrades in a grenade incident. Buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension.
Buried at Corbie Community cemetery extension, France, Plot 2 , Row B, Grave 1
Educated at Uppingham School
A remarkable story of an officer who hugged a burning bomb till it exploded and killed him rather than throw it aside and risk the lives of a number of men, is told in the “London Gazette” of the 28th December, which announces that the King has awarded the Albert Medal in Gold, ”in recognition of the conspicuous gallantry and self-sacrifice of Second-Lieutenant Grey de Lèche Leach, late of the 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards.” Lieutenant Leach was examining bombs in a building in France on 3rd September, 1916. Two non-commissioned officers were also at work in the building, when the fuse of one of the bombs ignited. Shouting awarning, he made for the door, carrying the bomb pressed close to his body, but on reaching the door he found other men outside, so that he could not throw the bomb away without exposing others to grave danger. He continued, therefore, to press the bomb to his body until it exploded, mortally wounding him. Lieutenant Leach might easily have saved his life by throwing the bomb away or dropping it on the ground and seeking shelter, says the official announcement, but either course would have endangered the lives of those in or around the building. He sacrificed his own life to save the lives of others.
Memorial(s):
| Country | Location | Name of Memorial | Campaign | Names | Date(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | The garden is usually kept locked; access is by prior appointment with Mole Valley District Council by telephone or via the Help Shop at Leatherhead Library Garden of Remembrance North Street Leatherhead Mole Valley Surrey KT22 7AS | Leatherhead Garden of Remembrance | World War 1 |
Grey de Leche Leach | 3-9-1916 | View |
| England | School chapel Uppingham School High Street Uppingham Rutland Leicestershire LE15 9QE | Uppingham School War Memorial | World War 1 |
Grey de Leche Leach | 3-9-1916 | View |
Further information:
Find more information about a specific soldier visit findmypast. The Scots Guards are delighted that their Enlistment Books from 1840 to 1938 are now available at:
If you have information on a specific memorial please send it on to the Historical Committee. The Memorial information required is:
- Who or what formation of the Regiment is named on the memorial. What event, dates or other inscriptions on the memorial.
- The country, nearest town/city or other details of location.
- A description of the memorial with a photograph if possible.
- For bigger sites a copy of any advertising information or leaflets would be useful.
Please sent any information that you find to: Michael Campbell-Lamerton
As the information on the database builds up Michael Campbell-Lamerton will be sending regular updates to Archives at RHQ who remains the point of contact about for inquiries on past members of the Regiment.
