Orders, Decorations and Medals

Second Lieutenant J. Leach, V.C., Manchester Regiment

Identity Disk, in fibre composition, named ‘2 Lieut. J. Leach V.C. Man.2, C.E.’ good condition £100-120

V.C. London Gazette 22 December 1914.

‘On 29 October 1914 near Festubert, France, after their trench had been taken by the enemy and two attempts to recapture it had failed, Second Lieutenant Leach and Sergeant J. Hogan with a party of 10 volunteers went to recover it themselves. They took the Germans by surprise with a sudden bayonet attack and then working from traverse to traverse they gradually succeeded in regaining possession, killing eight of the enemy, wounding two and taking 16 prisoners’ (Ref. The Register of the Victoria Cross). See also Deeds that thrill the Empire, pp. 754 for further information. Sergeant J. Hogan was also awarded the Victoria Cross for this action.

James Leach was born in North Shields, Northunberland on 27 July 1892 and died in Shepherd’s Bush, London on 15 August 1958.