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Humphrey de Verd Leigh

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Humphrey de Verd Leigh
Wing Commander de Verd Leigh
Born26 July 1897
Aldershot, Hampshire
Died6 June 1980(1980-06-06) (aged 82)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Naval Air Service
Royal Air Force
Years of service1915–1919
1939–1945
RankWing Commander
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
Awards Order of British Empire
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Force Cross

Wing Commander Humphrey de Verd Leigh, OBE, DFC, AFC (1897–1980) was a Royal Air Force officer.

Leigh's idea during World War II for an anti-submarine spotlight for Coastal Command was developed and named the Leigh Light.

Early life

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Humphrey de Verd Leigh was born at Aldershot, Hampshire on 26 July 1897, the son of Agnes Mary Leigh (1859–1944) and John de Verd Leigh (1861–1947), the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Aldershot from 1889 to 1912.[1] He was christened by his father at that church in August 1897.[2]

Military career

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He was commissioned in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in 1915, gaining his Royal Aero Club Aviators' certificate as a flight sub-lieutenant on 13 June 1915 at Hendon.[3] He was promoted flight lieutenant in 1916[4] and served in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), flying seaplanes for the relief of Kut, and went on to serve in the early Royal Air Force (RAF) 1918–1819. Resigning his commission in 1919 Leigh went into business, working for many years in the Sudan in the cotton industry. A Freemason, he was initiated into the Walden Lodge No. 1280 at Saffron Walden in 1921, at which time he gave his profession as "Engineer".[5]

In 1935 he married Johanna Emily Whitefield Hayes (1910–1999) at Chelsea in London.[6] Their daughter was Ursula de Verd Leigh. In 1939 he and his wife were living at Great Cumberland Place in Marylebone in London with Leigh listing his occupation as Sales Manager for a Bituminous Roofing company.[7]

WWII

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Upon the outbreak of World War II Leigh re-joined the RAF in September 1939, serving in Personnel and Staff Duties for Coastal Command from 1939 until 1945.

His successful development of the Leigh Light, at his own volition and risk, and without approval of his senior commanders at the time made a significant contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic (1942).

Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1943,[8] having been awarded the Air Force Cross on 8 June 1941,[9] in 1954 he resigned his military commission.[10]

Later life

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In his latter years he lived at Richmond Hill in Richmond in London, and here he died on 6 June 1980. In his will he left £19,221.[11]

References

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  1. ^ 1901 England Census for Humphrey De Verd Leigh, Hampshire, Aldershot, Ancestry.com (subscription required).
  2. ^ Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1917 for Humphrey De Verd Leigh – Aldershot, Holy Trinity, 1896 May-1901 Jan, Ancestry.com (subscription required).
  3. ^ Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950 Index Cards – Humphrey de Verd Leigh, Ancestry.com (subscription required).
  4. ^ UK, Navy Lists, 1888-1970 for Humphrey De Verd Leigh, 1917, August, Ancestry.com (subscription required).
  5. ^ England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751–1921 for Humphrey De Verde Leigh: United Grand Lodge of England, 1910–1921 – Membership Registers: Country O 1208–1296 to Country P 1299–1390, Ancestry.com (subscription required).
  6. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916–2005 for Humphrey De V Leigh, 1935, Ancestry.com (subscription required).
  7. ^ 1939 England and Wales Register for Humphrey de Leigh, London, St Marylebone, Ancestry.com (subscription required).
  8. ^ "No. 35841". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1943. p. 14.
  9. ^ "No. 36544". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1944. p. 2647.
  10. ^ "No. 40234". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1954. p. 4249.
  11. ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995 for Humphrey De Verd Leigh, 1982, Ancestry.com (subscription required).
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