General Sir Edward Pemberton Leach, VC, KCVO

Victoria Cross

Battles and wars: Lushai Expedition, Second Anglo-Afghan War, Mahdist War

Books: Ned Wright, the Story of His Life

Edward was educated at Highgate School and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was gazetted to the Royal Engineers on 17th April 1866, and served at Chatham until October 1868, sailing for India in the following November.

From March 1869 to February 1870, he commanded a detachment of the Bengal Sappers and Miners at Rawalpindi, and subsequently joined the Public Works Department in Central India. In October 1871, he was appointed to the Indian Survey, and served in his new capacity with the Cachar Column of the Lushai Expeditionary Force. In November 1877, he went on leave to England, but returned in 1878 as Private Secretary to Sir James Caird, Famine Commissioner. On the outbreak of the Afghan War, he joined the Khyber Survey Party and, while making a survey reconnaissance in the Shinwari country with detachments of the Guides Cavalry and the 45th Sikhs, was attacked by the enemy. It was during this action, that he would be awarded the VC (London Gazette, 6th December 1879).

On 17th March 1879, near Maidanah, Afghanistan, when covering the retirement of the Survey Escort who were carrying Lieutenant Barclay, 45th Sikhs who was mortally wounded, behaved with utmost gallantry in charging a much larger enemy force. In this encounter Captain Leach killed two or three of the enemy himself, and he received a severe wound from an Afghan knife in the left arm. Leach helped saved the party from annihilation from the enemy.

Leach actually received his medal just three days after it was gazetted, on 9th December 1879 at Windsor Castle from Queen Victoria. He was back in England because his arm wound had forced him to be invalided home. He recuperated and returned to India in March 1880, and joined the Kandahar Field Force, under Major-General Primrose, for survey work. He was later appointed Brigade Major, Royal Engineers, and was present at the final defeat of the enemy by Sir Frederick Roberts VC.

He was mentioned in despatches four times, and given brevets of Major and Lieutenant-Colonel.

In 1885, he took part in the operations at Suakim, was twice mentioned in despatches and received the CB for his gallantry at Tofrek Zareba, then commanding a brigade at Korosko and afterwards at Assouan (1885-1886). After a short time back in England, he was given command of the 9th Division, 3rd Army Corps in Belfast, before becoming Commander in Chief in Scotland, a post he held for 4 years.

In 1906 he was made a KCVO, and in 1909 was knighted by King Edward VII. He had been married since 1883 to Elizabeth Mary Bazley, and they had a son and two daughters. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1905, and General in 1910, before he retired in 1912. He chose to live his retirement in Italy on the banks of Lake Como. He died on 27th April 1913 at Cadenabbia, Italy, and was buried in Cimitero di Griante, near Cadenabbia. 

The grave was recently renovated through the excellent work of the Victoria Cross Trust earlier this year. His medals are held and displayed by the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM, CHATHAM, KENT.

BURIAL PLACE: GRIENZA CHURCHYARD, LAKE COMO, ITALY.

General Sir Edward Pemberton Leach VC KCB KCVO (2 April 1847 – 27 April 1913) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Sir Edward Pemberton Leach VCEdwardPembertonLeach.jpg Gen. Sir Edward Leach Born 2 April 1847 County Londonderry, Ireland Died 27 April 1913 (aged 66) Cadenabbia, Lake Como, Italy Buried Griante Cemetery, via Independezia, Griante Allegiance United Kingdom Service/branch Flag of the British Army.svg British Army Years of service 1866–1912 Rank General Unit Royal Engineers Commands held 9th (Scottish) Division Scottish Command Battles/wars Lushai Expedition Second Anglo-Afghan War Mahdist War Awards Victoria Cross Order of the Bath Royal Victorian Order

Military career Leach was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1866.

He was 31 years old, and a captain in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army and with Bengal Sappers and Miners (British Indian Army) during the Second Anglo-Afghan War when the following deed took place on 17 March 1879 near Maidanah, Afghanistan for which he was awarded the VC.

For having, in action with the Shinwarris near Maidanah, Afghanistan, on 17 March 1879, when covering the retirement of the Survey Escort who were carrying Lieutenant Barclay, 45th Sikhs, mortally wounded, behaved with the utmost gallantry in charging, with some men of the 45th Sikhs, a very much larger number of the enemy. In this encounter Captain Leach killed two or three of the enemy himself, and he received a severe wound from an Afghan knife in the left arm. Captain Leach's determination and gallantry in this affair, in attacking and driving back the enemy from the last position, saved the whole party from annihilation.

Later life After this incident promotion followed and he was made Commander of 24 Field Company during the Suakin Expedition in 1885. He was promoted to Major-General on 1 October 1897. By 1899 he was General Officer Commanding Belfast in which capacity he founded the Ballykinlar training camp. He was appointed General Officer Commanding the 9th Division within Third Army Corps in Ireland on 1 April 1902, and served until 1905. Later that year, he was appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Scottish Command where he served from 1905 to 1909 before he retired in 1912.

Leach died in Cadenabbia, Lake Como, Italy on 27 April 1913.

The medal His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, England.

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