Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 March 2013

Starting at 12:00 PM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 376

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25 March 2013

Estimate: £400–£500

Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (John N. Leach) very fine £400-500

With a note to accompany the lot:

‘John Neil Leach, 25, was the son of a judge in Jamaica; ... Leach was of British nationality, fluent in German, and consorted with known World War I German sympathizers. While in New York (he boarded with a German named Gustav Stahl at 20 Leroy Street, where the proprietors were German sympathizers. He also knew German spy Curt Thummel from the same boarding house.

Leach was recommended for a job on the Lusitania by his uncle who was a provisions importer in New York and knew Staff Captain Anderson. Stahl testified under oath that the night before Lusitania left New York, he and Leach snuck on board and found Lusitania to be armed. Stahl was later convicted of perjury.

Leach’s British nationality and consorting with Germans leads to the conclusion that Leach was a mercenary spy working for the Germans. His task on board the Lusitania can only be speculated, but it is very likely that he was connected to the three stowaways apprehended by Detective-Inspector Pierpoint just after the Lusitania left New York.

The stowaways spoke German and did not speak English, and the ship’s translator Adolph Pederson had to assist in the interrogation. Some accounts say that they were found with photographic equipment, possibly looking for concealed armament or smuggled munitions. From the descriptions the stowaways seem to be German agents beyond a reasonable doubt. These three were then locked up below decks to await trial for espionage when Lusitania reached England. When the ship was torpedoed, the three were still locked below decks and drowned.’For further information see ‘www.rmslusitania.info’

John Neil Leach served as a Waiter aboard the Lusitania. He died when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20., 7 May 1915. Aged 25 years at the time of his death, he was the son of John Vincent and Katherine Theodore Leach, of Jamaica.

Well worthy of further research.