Leonard Alexander Leach

Memorial: Thornbury & District Museum: 6th Maritime Regiment Memorial

Regiment: 6th Maritime Regiment

Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945

Rank and number: Gunner

Parents: William Thomas and Caroline Leach

Marital status: Married

Home address: 47 Brewer Street, Woolwich

Pre-war occupation: Confectioner

Date of birth: 1909

Place of birth: South East London

Date of death: 26/07/1943

Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea and commemorated Plymouth Naval Memorial Devon and the Maritime Memorial Thornbury

Age: 34

Further information:

Leonard had survived the sinking of the Dutch Motor Merchant ship 'Koenjit' in May 1942 but was subsequently killed in action and died at sea the following year. It is probable that he was killed while serving aboard the cargo ship El Argentino when it was sailing in ballast as part of a convoy from Glasgow to Montevideo. On 26 July 1943 the vessel was bombed by German aircraft north west of Lisbon and sunk with the loss of four of her crew which would have included Leonard. Leonard was initially reported as missing which was changed to presumed killed in action 6 months later.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1641.html