GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
1253
An exceptional and rare ‘Relief of Chitral’ C.B., ‘Great War’ C.B.E., ‘Chin-Lushai’ D.S.O. group of ten awarded to
Brigadier-General H. P. Leach, Royal Engineers
THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and
enamels; THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and
enamels; DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; AFGHANISTAN 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ali Musjid (Lieut. H. P.
Leach, R.E.); EGYPT & SUDAN 1882-89, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (Capt. & Actg. D.A.G. Genl. H. P. Leach, R.
E.); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1854-94, 2 clasps, Lushai 1889-92, Chin-Lushai 1889-90 (Major H. P. Leach, R.E.); INDIA GENERAL
SERVICE 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (Col. H. P. Leach, R.E.); BRITISH WAR MEDAL (Brig. Gen. H. P. Leach);
DELHI DURBAR 1903, silver, complete with ribbon buckle; KHEDIVE‘S STAR 1884-6, the last eight mounted court style, slight
chip to enamel on C.B.E., the medals with contact marks, otherwise generally very fine or better (10) £6000-8000
Harold Pemberton Leach was born in Londonderry on 14 April 1851, the fourth son of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Sir G. A. Leach, K.C.
B., who had joined the Royal Engineers in 1837. Harold’s brother, Edward Pemberton Leach, was also a distinguished Royal Engineer,
his honours including the V.C., K.C.B. and K.C.V.O.
Harold was educated at Sir Roger Cholmeley’s school, Highgate, where he was a foundation Scholar and distinguished himself equally
in work and play, being both in the cricket and football teams in the year 1867. He afterwards went to Frosts in Kensington to complete
his preparation for examination to the R.M.A., Woolwich. He passed into the R.M.A. in January 1868 and remained there for the full
period of two and a half years, being gazetted to the Royal Engineers on 2 August 1871. He spent the next two years at the school of
Military Engineering at Chatham learning the trade of a Royal Engineer.
On leaving Chatham in 1873, he was attached to the War Office for a short period and then embarked for India, where he joined the
Bengal Sappers & Miners in 1874, at Rourkee. He remained there for four years, and in addition to his professional duties, did lots of
big game shooting, pig sticking and polo, becoming quite a useful player in the latter game. In 1878 he had his first experience of
active service, when he was attached to the 1st Division Peshawar Valley Field Force, in the Afghan War. As Officer Commanding the
8th Company, Bengal Sappers & Miners, he was present at the capture of Ali Musjid, the action at Deh Savak and the operations in the
Bazaar Valley. Leach was mentioned in dispatches, General Maude reporting on the 26th of December that ‘Seeing the Afridis on top
of a steep mountain become troublesome, he (Brig-General Tytler) directed Lieutenant H. P. Leach with his half company of Sappers,
who had just reached the crest, along with a party of the 27th Native Infantry, to take the summit of the hill. This was gallantly carried
by Leach and his men. Brigadier General Tytler also mentions Lieutenant Leach as one of the Officers to whom he was much indebted
and who rendered him most valuable assistance’.
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