Captain Eoin Leitch, BSc, 11th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

University of Glasgow: Studied Mathematics, Geology

Forename: Eoin Surname: Leitch Degree Information: BSc (1913)

Captain Eoin Leitch Rank: Captain Regiment: 11th Argyll And Sutherland Highlanders Degree: BSc Awards: N/A Comments: Killed in action near Ypres 31 July 1917 Note/Press Clipping: Ch 4/4/2/3/743, 1085 Photograph ID: Courtesy of the Passchendaele Archives, Zonnebeke, Belgium, from the book, With A Poppy And A Prayer

Eoin Leitch was born in Greenock on 23 September 1891, son of John, a sugar merchant, and his wife Jessee. He came to the University in 1909 to study for a Bachelor of Science degree. His principal subject was Chemistry but he also took Mathematics, Geology and Natural Philosophy, graduating on 20th June 1913.

Having joined the University OTC, Eoin was commissioned in 1911 in the Territorial Force. At the outbreak of the War he became a Lieutenant in the 5th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and left Greenock for Gallipoli in May 1915. He was subsequently invalided home and trained troops but returned to France in 1917 as a Captain attached to the 11th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

He was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele on 31st July 1917. His battalion was ordered to deploy a defensive flank between the 15th and 8th Divisions along the railway line. It is recorded that:

"The support Company, under Captain E Leitch, realizing the 8th Division were not in line successfully formed a defensive flank. With this attempt, to touch personally with Battalion on right, Captain Leitch was himself killed, a real loss to the Battalion."

He left behind his wife, Margaret Alexander Graham and one child. They had married on 7th December 1915 at the Mid Parish Church in Greenock.

He is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.