Humphrey de Verd Leigh
Encyclopedia
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. He was awarded the Air Force Cross
on 8 June 1941. In 1954 he relinquished his wartime commission. He died on 6 June 1980.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Humphrey de Verd Leigh OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(1897–1980) was a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer. During the Second World War his idea for an anti-submarine spotlight for Coastal Command was developed and named the Leigh Light
Leigh light
The Leigh Light was a British World War II era anti-submarine device used in the Second Battle of the Atlantic.It was a powerful carbon arc searchlight of 24 inches diameter fitted to a number of the British Royal Air Force's Coastal Command patrol bombers to help them spot surfaced...
after him.
Humphrey de Verd Leigh was born in Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, Hampshire, England on 26 July 1897. He entered the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in 1915, serving in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
(now Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
) 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
Leigh light
The Leigh Light was a British World War II era anti-submarine device used in the Second Battle of the Atlantic.It was a powerful carbon arc searchlight of 24 inches diameter fitted to a number of the British Royal Air Force's Coastal Command patrol bombers to help them spot surfaced...
, 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. He was awarded the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
on 8 June 1941. In 1954 he relinquished his wartime commission. He died on 6 June 1980.
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.