For Valour: 2nd Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod, VC Royal Air Force

20 April 1899 – 9 November 1918

27 March 1918, over France

After 3 years of static trench warfare, on 21 March 1918 the Great War became mobile again. With the collapse of Russian forces in the east, the German Army was able to move vast numbers of troops to the Western Front, culminating in an attack on a broad aspect. Where, until now, advances by each side could be measured in yards, the Germans penetrated deeply.

Lieutenant McLeod was a member of 2 Squadron, RFC, based at Hesdigneul, France, which was equipped with Armstrong Whitworth FK8 two-seat aircraft, nicknamed the ‘Big-Ack’ on account of their size. They were used for bombing, photographic and general reconnaissance duties. On 21 March 1918, the German armies launched a major offensive, causing many RFC units to be hurriedly moved to the Amiens and Bapaume battle area. On 27 March, McLeod was undertaking a bombing attack in FK 8 serial B5773 with Lieutenant Hammond MC as his Observer.

McLeod second from left, with stick (RAF Museum X004-7598/030)

The London Gazette 1 May 1918:

‘2nd Lt Alan Arnett McLeod, Royal Air Force

Whilst flying with his observer (Lt. A W. Hammond, M C.), attacking hostile formations by bombs and machine-gun fire, he was assailed at a height of 5,000 feet by eight enemy triplanes, which dived at him from all directions, firing from their front guns.

Victoria Cross Medal Set, Lieutenant Alan McLeod, V.C.
(CWM 19670076-001 Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals, Canadian War Museum, Ottawa)

By skilful manoeuvring he enabled his observer to fire bursts at each machine in turn, shooting three of them down out of control. By this time Lt McLeod had received five wounds, and whilst continuing the engagement a bullet penetrated his petrol tank and set the machine on fire. He then climbed out on to the left bottom plane, controlling his machine from the side of the fuselage, and by side-slipping steeply kept the flames to one side, thus enabling the observer to continue firing until the ground was reached.

Armstrong Whitworth FK 8 (RAF Museum 008)

The observer had been wounded six times when the machine crashed in “No Man’s Land,” and 2nd Lt McLeod, notwithstanding his own wounds, dragged him away from the burning wreckage at great personal risk from heavy machine-gun fire from the enemy’s lines. This very gallant pilot was wounded by a bomb whilst engaged in this act of rescue, but he persevered until he had placed Lt Hammond in comparative safety, before falling himself from exhaustion and loss of blood.’

Lieutenant McLeod’s wounds were such that he never flew again. He was sent back home to Canada in September 1918 to convalesce but on 6 November, he succumbed to the virulent Spanish Influenza pandemic, exacerbated by his war wounds.

Christmas card by No. 2 Squadron celebrating McLeod’s VC (RAF Museum X005-0925/002/003)

NOTE: McLeod is described as Royal Air Force as that was the force in which he was serving at the time the award was Gazetted but he was a member of the Royal Flying Corps at the time of the action.

He lies in Winnipeg (Kildonan) Presbyterian Cemetery, Winnipeg, Canada. His VC is held by the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.

McLeod family headstone
(© The War Grave Photographic Project www/twgpp.org)

Credits:

• Citation: London Gazette 1 May 1918
• Additional biographical details: For Valour: The Air VCs Chaz Bowyer, Grub Street Publishing.
• Grave photo: © The War Graves Photographic Project (www.twgpp.org)