Leatherhead War Memorials
TAKEN, NOT GIVEN, Chapter 1
Note: the content of these pages is based on handwritten script.
Some additions to the text proved to be indecipherable.
The website editor apologises if there are errors of transcription and welcomes suggested factual corrections.

2nd Lt Grey De Lèche Leach AM,
1st Scots Guards, Morlancourt, Sept 3 1916

Town Memorial P5.R1.C2

In the Parish Church of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, is this memorial

It reads:

IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF
GREY DE LÈCHE LEACH,
2ND LIEUT. 1ST BATTN. SCOTS GUARDS,
AND OF VALE LODGE, LEATHERHEAD
AGED 22,
WHO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE TO SAVE THE LIVES OF
OFFICERS AND MEN OF HIS BATTALION
AT MORLANCOURT, FRANCE, ON THE 3RD SEPTEMBER 1916,
BURIED AT CORBIE, NEAR AMIENS. 
THE ALBERT MEDAL IN GOLD WAS AWARDED IN RECOGNITION OF
HIS CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND SELF SACRIFICE. 

It was erected by his father, CF Leach, of Vale Lodge, Leatherhead, who later became chairman of the Port of London Authority.

Grey De Lèche Leach was born in London in 1894. He enlisted in the 1/5 East Surrey Regiment, the local Territorial unit, on 10 August 1914 six days after the outbreak of war with Germany. He remained in the UK until 29 October 1914. With his unit he proceeded to India where the Territorial Force was relieving the peacetime Regulars.

From 4 December 1914 until 20 August 1915 he was stationed in Cawnpore in Central India; and from 22 August 1915 until 20 October 1915 at Nowshera on the North-West Frontier. It took two days to reach the frontier from Cawnpore.

On 4 December 1915 he transferred to the Scots Guards Special Reserve of Officers on probation and from that date until 31 March 1916 he was attached the the Regiment's 3rd (Reserve) Battalion.

On 1 April 1916 he proceeded to France to join the 1st Battalion Scots Guards which had formed part of the British Expeditionary Force since the commencement of hostilities. He served with them until the fatal events of 3 September 1916, having been confirmed in his rank on 5 June 1916.¹

What took place on 3 September 1916 is best described by the entry in his unit's war diary, made within hours of his death.² It gives the date of the entry and states that unit was at Morlancourt. After observing that church parade had been held it goes on to say:-

"A very sad accident attended by fatal results occurred this morning. 2nd Lt G de L Leach, the Battalion Bombing Officer, was detonating [inserting detonators in] bombs in the Orderly Room when the fuze of one accidentally ignited. Realising the great danger in which this placed the other two occupants of the Orderly Room, Lt Leach after shouting a warning to them rushed to the door evidently with the intention of throwing the bomb into some bushes.

On reaching the door however, he observed a number of people in the vicinity and before he could throw the bomb clear it exploded, blowing off both his hands and wounding him in the stomach and legs. He was conveyed to hospital at Corbie with all possible speed, but died before it was reached. By his unselfish action he saved the lives of several others, but lost his own. A Court of Enquiry was held in the evening and a suitable notice was recorded."

The diary records his burial the next day with the C.O., second in command, the majority of the officers, 24 other ranks and the pipes and drums present.

Grey De Lèche Leach was interred in the Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, situated at the junction of the Somme/Ancre, nine miles from Amiens. His grave is Plot 2, Row B, Grave1¹.

On 11 December 1917 his courage was publicly recognised. From the London Gazette of that date:

"The King has been pleased to award the Albert Medal in Gold in recognition of the conspicuous self sacrifice of Second Lieutenant Grey De Lèche Leach, late of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards. The circumstances are as follows:-

In France on 3rd September 1916 Lieutenant Leach was examining bombs in a building in which two non-commissioned officers were also at work, when the fuse of one of the bombs ignited. Shouting a warning 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, but either course would have endangered the lives of those in or around the building. He sacrificed himself for the lives of others." ¹

No more need be written.

Sources
1. Mrs Linda Heath, Leatherhead & District Local History Society, who obtained them from the churchwardens of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead.
2. War Diary, 1st Bn Scots Guards. Ref WO95/1219 (2nd Guards Brigade) PRO

Grey Leach is buried in CORBIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Plot 2. Row B. Grave 1.

He is listed among the War casualties on the Church Lads Brigade tryptich at All Saints, Leatherhead.

He is listed in the Parish Magazine of May 1915, Section C

memorial image source: Haslam

[Links]
Map showing Morlancourt and Corbie
Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry
The Scots Guards
Albert Medal (later replaced by the George Cross)

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, of his grave and of any recollections within his family

page last updated 21 Feb 2009