Humphrey de Verd Leigh
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Humphrey de Verd Leigh
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| File:Humphrey de Verd Leigh WWII IWM CH 13927.jpg | |
| Born | 26 July 1897 Aldershot, Hampshire, England |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915 – 1919 1939 – 1945 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of the 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. During the Second World War his idea for an anti-submarine spotlight for Coastal Command was developed and named the Leigh Light after him.
Humphrey de Verd Leigh was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, England on 26 July 1897. He entered the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in 1915, serving in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) flying seaplanes for the relief of Kut, and went on to serve in the early Royal Air Force (RAF) 1918–19. Resigning in 1919 he went into business, working for many years in the Sudan in the Cotton industry. On the outbreak of World War II he rejoined the RAF in September 1939 and served on 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 made a significant contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic, in 1942.
de Verd Leigh was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1943.[1] He was awarded the Air Force Cross on 8 June 1941.[2] In 1954 he relinquished his wartime commission.[3] He died on 6 June 1980.
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35841. p. 14. 1 January 1943. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36544. p. 2647. 8 June 1944. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40234. p. 4249. 20 July 1954. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
External links
- New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. I), CHAPTER 14 Battle of the Atlantic, 1942. See note 1
- Technical details of the Leigh Light and photo of de Verd Leigh.
- Imperial War Museum Interview
- Use British English from August 2011
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- Pages with broken file links
- Royal Air Force officers
- Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- English aviators
- Royal Naval Air Service aviators
- Royal Navy officers
- Royal Naval Air Service personnel of World War I
- Royal Air Force personnel of World War I
- Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
- 1897 births
- 1980 deaths
- People from Aldershot
