Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front Casualty’ group of three to Captain Norman Bleek Leech, 10th (Hull Commercials) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

1914-15 Star (Lieut., E. York. R.); British war and Victory Medals (Capt.); memorial plaque (Norman Bleek Leech); and named illuminated memorial scroll, the trio, plaque and scroll contained in three separate contemporary glazed frames; together with a related group of five, comprising British war and Victory Medals (Lieut. L. B. Leech); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal, with original Second War period photograph of recipient in uniform, nearly extremely fine (9) £400-500

Captain Norman Bleek Leech died of wounds France and Flanders 10 May 1917 whilst serving with the 10th (Hull Commercial) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Sold with photocopied extract from School Roll of Honour (including a full page picture of Leech in uniform), from which the following information is extracted: ‘He was very seriously wounded on 3 May while leading a bombing raid and died in hospital at Le Touquet on 10 May 1917. A brother officer wrote ‘I shall always look on Norman as one of the chief influences that worked to make our battalion. He had a wonderful hold over his company. He seemed to fine a specimen to die, for I looked on him as a perfect type of English gentleman. From all accounts his conduct on May 3rd, whilst leading his company in the attack, was just what we all expected of him.’

Lieutenant L. B. Leech served during the Great war with the Rifle Brigade.