Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Memorial – Flying Officer Leonard Charles Robert Leach is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flying Officer Leonard Charles Robert Leach is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessensns

Photo of LEONARD CHARLES ROBERT LEACH – Charlie and Hilda Leach. Toddler is Johnny and brother Leonard Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Photo of LEONARD CHARLES ROBERT LEACH – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Attestation paper – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter of recommendation – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter of recommendation – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter (1) – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter (2) – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Report – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Document – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Letter – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Grave marker – Photo provided by The Commonwealth Roll Of Honour Project. Volunteer Henry Drury

Milland Church – Photo provided by The Commonwealth Roll Of Honour Project. Volunteer Henry Drury

Photo of Leonard Charles Leach – Leonard Charles Leach. R.C.A.F. Birth: November 11, 1920. Death: October 14, 1942 Son of Charles and Hilda Leach of Dryden. Leonard Leach was born in Osaquan, Ontario. Osaquan was a community that existed from the early 20th Century to the mid 1930s and was located about 5 miles west of Ignace. The economy of Osaquan was centered around a sawmill operation. Osaquan attained a population of about 45 families during the peak of economic activity in that area. By the time of the Great Depression, the sawmill operations were closed and almost all families had left the area and moved elsewhere. Leonard's father was a Canadian soldier during the First World War. Leonard's mother's family (Weston) originated from England. In 1932, Leonards family moved to Dryden where he attended public and high school. In 1938 Leonard received his senior matriculation from Dryden High School. From 1938 until October 1940, when he enlisted with the Air Force, Leonard was employed at the Royal Bank in Dryden. While employed at the Royal bank, Leonard was paid a salary of about 28 dollars a month. This was raised to 32 dollars per month during Leonard's second year at the bank. After receiving his training as a flight navigator of a Lancaster bomber, Leonard arrived overseas in December 1941. On October 1942, after returning from a bombing mission over Kiel, Germany, Leonards plane was damaged by flack and crashed into a hill in Yorkshire, England. As a navigator of a Lancaster, Leonard was in the nose of the plane and was the only one of his crew who was killed. He was buried on October 19, 1942 in the St. Luke's churchyard in Milland, West Sussex. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.

Group Photo – A picture of Leonard's Bomber Crew. Leonard was the nagivator of a Lancaster bomber and was one of 9 Canadians who participated in one of first RAF first one thousand plane bomber mission over Germany in July 1942. Leonard is the second from the right in the back row. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.

Photo of Leonard Charles Robert Leach – In Memory of the members of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) who went to war and did not return. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

Photo of LEONARD CHARLES ROBERT LEACH – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me