Born 24 September 1875 • Cambridgeshire. Married at Kent in 1908. Husband of Sarah Ann Cornish (21/2/1875-1937), of 24, Sherburn Street, Hull (1916 address) and 69, Craven Street, Hull (War pension address). They had five daughters and a son.
Enlisted in the Royal Navy, on 17 April 1891, aged 15. Served in the Navy Life Guard Battalion at the Coast Guard Station, Easington. Discharged on 12 July 1916 with Pneumonia. Died of Cardiac failure, on 27 July 1916, aged 40
Service Record of Edward Leech:
Portsmouth
160250
Born 24 September 1875 in St Matthew, Cambridge
Occupation on entry – Butcher’s Boy
17 April 1891 – 21 April 1891
HMS Impregnable.
Rated Boy 2nd Class on entry
22 April 1891 – 25 June 1892
HMS Ganges.
Promoted Boy 1st Class 5 May 1892
26 June 1892 – 30 January 1893
HMS Impregnable.
31 January 1893 – 25 November 1893
HMS Inflexible.
Promoted Ordinary Seaman 24 September 1893
Enrolled for 12 years 24 September 1893
Both of these last two on his eighteenth birthday. This is when his pensionable service started.
26 November 1893 – 16 December 1893
HMS Victory I.
17 December 1893 – 23 May 1895
HMS Resolution.
Rated TM [Trained Man] 1 April 1895
Promoted Able Seaman 1 April 1895
24 May 1895 – 13 January 1896
HMS Excellent.
Cells. 12 – 14 August 1895
Rated SG2C [Seaman Gunner 2nd Class] 11 December 1895
Conduct rated “Good” only 31 December 1895
14 January 1896 – [17 May 1897]?
HMS Revenge.
18 May 1897 – 14 July 1897
HMS Royal Oak.
15 July 1897 – 14 December 1899
HMS Revenge.
Granted 1st Good Conduct badge 14 August 1897
15 December 1899 – 19 February 1900
HMS Duke of Wellington.
20 February 1900 – 8 December 1900
HMS Seahorse.
Promoted Leading Seaman 29 March 1900
Reduced to Able Seaman 3 December 1900
Conduct rated “Good” only 31 December 1900
9 December 1900 – 9 February 1901
HMS Excellent.
Rated SG1C [Seaman Gunner 1st Class] 31 January 1901
10 February 1901 – 18 May 1903
HMS Hannibal.
Rated SG [Seaman Gunner] 1 September 1901
Granted 2nd Good Conduct badge 4 December 1902
19 May 1903 – 3 June 1903
HMS Mersey.
Volunteered to complete 22 years 3 June 1903.
4 June 1903 – 1 March 1904
Coastguard – Eastern – Seasalter Cliff.
Seasalter CG is near Whitstable in Kent
Rated TM [Trained Man] 4 June 1903
Rated Boatman on appointment to Coastguard 4 June 1903
2 March 1904 – 14 August 1907
Coast guard – Eastern – Isle of Grain.
Isle of Grain CG is near Rochester, Essex
Granted 3rd Good Conduct badge 27 September 1906
15 August 1907 – 22 December 1910
Coastguard – Eastern – Sheerness.
Sheerness CG is in Kent
23 December 1910 – 12 July 1914
Coastguard – Eastern – Kingsdown.
Kingsdown CG is in Kent
Promoted to Leading Boatman 15 July 1911
RMG [Recommended for Medal and Gratuity] 31 December 1913
13 July 1914 – 12 July 1916
Coastguard – Eastern – Easington.
Easington CG is near Hull
RMG [Recommended for Medal and Gratuity] 31 December 1914
Passed for PO(CG) [Petty Office (Coast Guard)] 10 May 1915
LSGC Medal traced [and awarded] 9 February 1916
Invalided 12 July 1916 (Stroke + lost use of right arm + leg + also speech)
Note:
According to R/S dated 14 June 1920 from A.G. 14 in connection with will 2686/1919 man’s full name Edward William Leech.
His medal entitlement for WW1 is only the British War Medal. On the roll he is listed as Edward Leech.
On the RN LSGC medal roll, he is listed as Edward Leech.
