James Leach

Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion. Manchester Regiment

Register No.: 725 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
Unit: 2nd Battalion. Manchester Regiment all Manchester Regiment VCs →
Date of action: 29 October 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 22nd October, 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
Died: 15th August 1958 at Shepherds Bush, London
Memorial / grave: not known

Digest of citation

After two attempts, on 29th October, 1914 near her Festubert, France, to recapture their trench, that had been taken by the enemy, had failed, Second Lieutenant Leach and Sergeant John Hogan (reg No. 578) and a party of 10 volunteers went to recapture it themselves. With a sudden bayonet attack they took the Germans by surprise. Then working from traverse to traverse, at close quarters and with great bravery, they gradually succeeded in repossessing the trench. They killed eight of the enemy, wounded two and made 16 prisoners

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

LEACH, James (reg No. 725).

Second Lieutenant. 2nd Battalion. Manchester Regiment.

London Gazetted on 22nd October, 1914. after two attempts on 29th October 1940 near first tour France to recapture their trench the teeming get Born on 27th July 1892 at North Shields, Northumberland.

Died on 15th August 1958 at Shepherds Bush, London.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: After two attempts, on 29th October, 1914 near her Festubert, France, to recapture their trench, that had been taken by the enemy, had failed, Second Lieutenant Leach and Sergeant John Hogan (reg No. 578) and a party of 10 volunteers went to recapture it themselves. With a sudden bayonet attack they took the Germans by surprise. Then working from traverse to traverse, at close quarters and with great bravery, they gradually succeeded in repossessing the trench. They killed eight of the enemy, wounded two and made 16 prisoners.

Additional information:. Second Lieutenant Leach lived in Manchester as a boy. he joined the 1st Northamptonshire Regiment, serving in France from the outbreak of the European War (WWI). On the 1st October 1914 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment.

Additional information

Second Lieutenant Leach lived in Manchester as a boy. he joined the 1st Northamptonshire Regiment, serving in France from the outbreak of the European War (WWI). On the 1st October 1914 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment.

after two attempts on 29th October 1940 near first tour France
to recapture their trench the teeming get Born on 27th July 1892
at North Shields, Northumberland.

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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known

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