Edward Pemberton Leach
Captain, Royal Engineers
- Register No.
- 724 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Royal Engineers (register: Royal Engineers & Bengal Sappers and Miners) all Royal Engineers & Bengal Sappers and Miners VCs →
- Date of action
- 17 March 1879 on this day → all of 1879 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Afghan War
- London Gazette
- 6th December, 1879 on this day → all of 1879 →
- Born
- 2nd April, 1847 at Londonderry, Ireland
- Died
- 27th April, 1913 at Caddenabbia, Lake Como, Italy
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 17th March 1879 during the Afghan War, near Maidanah, Afghanistan, Captain Leach and some men of the 45th Sikhs were covering the retirement of the Survey Escort who were carrying a mortally wounded Lieutenant Barclay, of the 45th Sikhs. Captain Leach acted with utmost gallantry by charging, with his men, a much greater number of the enemy. In the encounter he killed two or three of the enemy himself, receiving a severe wound from an Afghan knife in the left arm. His determination and gallantry, in attacking and driving back the Shinwaris from the last position, saved the whole party from annihilation
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
LEACH, Edward Pemberton. (reg No. 724).
Captain. Royal Engineers.
London Gazetted on 6th December, 1879.
Born on 2nd April, 1847 at Londonderry, Ireland.
Died on 27th April, 1913 at Caddenabbia, Lake Como, Italy.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 17th March 1879 during the Afghan War, near Maidanah, Afghanistan, Captain Leach and some men of the 45th Sikhs were covering the retirement of the Survey Escort who were carrying a mortally wounded Lieutenant Barclay, of the 45th Sikhs. Captain Leach acted with utmost gallantry by charging, with his men, a much greater number of the enemy. In the encounter he killed two or three of the enemy himself, receiving a severe wound from an Afghan knife in the left arm. His determination and gallantry, in attacking and driving back the Shinwaris from the last position, saved the whole party from annihilation.
Additional information:. General Edward Leach was created a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). From 1900-1905 he commanded the 9th Division of the Third Army Corps in Belfast. This was followed, until 1909, when he served as GOC-in-C, Scotland. Edward Pemberton Leach was the second son of Lieutenant Colonel Sir George Archibald Leach KCB and his wife Emily (née Leigh). He was educated at Highgate School and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He joined the Royal Engineers on 17th April 1866, serving at Chatham until October 1868. The following month he sailed for India. He commanded a detachment of the Bengal Sappers at Rawalpindi from March 1869 until the following February. He joined the Public Works Department in Central India being appointed, in October 1871, to the Indian Survey. He served in this capacity with the: Cachar Column of the Lushai Expeditionary Force. He went on leave to England in November 1877. When he returned, in 1878, he was Private Secretary to Sir James Caird. At the outbreak of the Second Afghan War he joined the Khyber Survey Party. It was while making a survey reconnaissance, in Shinwari country, with detachments of the Guides Cavalry and 45th Sikhs, that they were attacked by the enemy. This was where he won his Victoria Cross.
Additional information
General Edward Leach was created a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). From 1900-1905 he commanded the 9th Division of the Third Army Corps in Belfast. This was followed, until 1909, when he served as GOC-in-C, Scotland. Edward Pemberton Leach was the second son of Lieutenant Colonel Sir George Archibald Leach KCB and his wife Emily (née Leigh). He was educated at Highgate School and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He joined the Royal Engineers on 17th April 1866, serving at Chatham until October 1868. The following month he sailed for India. He commanded a detachment of the Bengal Sappers at Rawalpindi from March 1869 until the following February. He joined the Public Works Department in Central India being appointed, in October 1871, to the Indian Survey. He served in this capacity with the: Cachar Column of the Lushai Expeditionary Force. He went on leave to England in November 1877. When he returned, in 1878, he was Private Secretary to Sir James Caird. At the outbreak of the Second Afghan War he joined the Khyber Survey Party. It was while making a survey reconnaissance, in Shinwari country, with detachments of the Guides Cavalry and 45th Sikhs, that they were attacked by the enemy. This was where he won his Victoria Cross.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Edward Pemberton Leach by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.