John Catterall Leach DSO, RN
| Born | 1 Sep 1894 | | |
| Died | 10 Dec 1941 | (47) | HMS Prince of Wales |
| Ranks | | | 30 Dec 1914 | S.Lt. | | 15 Dec 1915 | Lt. | | 15 Dec 1923 | Lt.Cdr. | | 31 Dec 1928 | Cdr. | | 31 Dec 1933 | Capt. |
Decorations | | | 27 Jun 1927 | MVO | | 14 Oct 1941 | DSO |
|
Warship Commands listed for John Catterall Leach, RN
Career information
John Catterall Leach died as captain of the battleships HMS Prince of Wales when she was sunk by Japanese aircraft.
Events related to this officer
21 May 1941
The British battlecruiser Hood (Capt. R. Kerr, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral L.E. Holland, CB, RN) and the battleship Prince of Wales (Capt. J.C. Leach, MVO, RN) were ordered to proceed to Hvalfjord, Iceland as the German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen were spotted by air reconnaissance at Bergen, Norway. As there were indications that these two were contemplatibf a raid on the ocean trade routes.
The two British capital ships were escorted by the destroyers HMS Electra (Cdr. C.W. May, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, RN), HMS Echo (Lt.Cdr. C.H.deB. Newby, RN), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSO, RN), HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. Viscount Jocelyn, RN) and HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. R.B.N. Hicks, DSO, RN).
