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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 118

A group of twelve to Lieutenant-Colonel G. V. Leath, Royal Signals, late Royal Engineers, who was taken Prisoner of War in North Russia on 20 July 1919 and was released in Moscow in March 1920, and who later was in charge of maintaining and repairing all signalling and communication equipment on Sword Beach on 6 June 1944 for the D-Day landings as part of 6th Infantry Division

British War and Victory Medals (32706 Spr. G. V. Leath); 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Capt. G. V. Leath. R. Sigs); Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (2306665 Sjt. G. V. Leath. R. Signals.); Belgium, Order of the Crown, Knight's breast Badge with Palme; Belgium, Croix de Guerre, 1940 with Palme, the first two with polishing, otherwise very fine (12)

Belgian Order of Leopold II London Gazette 25 September 1947. The citation states:

'This Officer has served with the Division for 5 years. He trained with the Division in UK and landed with them on D-Day. He has been responsible for the maintenance and repair of the complete wireless and signal equipment throughout operations. Due to his untiring effort and energy a very high standard of communication was reached and maintained. When the going was hard he was always to be seen leading his men and his complete devotion to duty was an inspiration to all.'

Belgian Croix de Guerre, with Palme London Gazette 25 September 1947.

Gordon Victor Leath was born on 28 September 1900 and was a native of Falmouth, Cornwall. He was the son of Thomas Moses Leath and Esther Leath (nee Evans). He joined the Royal Engineers on 5 April 1916 as a boy Sapper, aged 15, and served at home until 13 May 1919, where he was part of the contingent that went to Archangel in North Russia in support of the White Russians, following the Russian Revolution. He was part of the Wireless Telegraphy Dept. Here he was captured and made Prisoner of War by mutineers, his relatives being first told he was missing, believed taken prisoner on 20 July, with confirmation being received on 5 August that he was indeed captive at Vologda.

On 1 August 1919, he wrote a letter home:

'Mr & Mrs T.M. Leath
Kings Arms
Grampound Road
Tregoney
Cornwall

August 1st, 1919

My Dearest Mum + Dad + all,

I realise you will be wondering why I haven't written before but you must forgive me as I with a few others have been arrested. There's nothing to worry about. We are being treated quite alright and we have been promised that nothing shall happen to us. I can't quite say when I shall be able to write again but I can assure you you mustn't worry in the least. Write to me as often as you possibly can as I think we shall be allowed to receive letters from you. How are you all getting on - is Mother any better. I so hope she is improving and how are you keeping these days Dad, cheerio and hope to be seeing you soon. I want one of the Girls to write to Miss K. Howarth, 8, Ruskin Avenue, Moss Side, Manchester and to Rubes in Exeter her add in R. Jelland, 18, Belmont Road, Exeter, you will do that for me won't you as I want them to know why I can't write so often.

Now all of you don't go worrying as everything will be quite alright. We are being well treated quite alright and I'm in the best of health.

Cheerio, must close now. Write often and don't forget to write to Exeter and Manchester

All my love till we one which I hope will be soon.

Ever loving son, Gordon.'

After release via Finland, where he arrived on 11 March 1920, he embarked for Southampton and finally returned home. News was eventually received as to the circumstances of his capture and a local Cornish newspaper took up the story:

'….[he] went to Russia with the Relief Force in May, 1919, arriving at Archangel in June. He was sent with an advanced party on the railway front towards Vologda and was engaged in supplying the "White" Guards with ammunition, clothing, etc. In July a party of British troops were celebrating the signing of peace when they were surprised by the Bolsheviks who raided the signal office and took 30 prisoners, of whom Sapper Leath was one. When they got outside they observed a "Red Flag" flying from the British Headquarters. The "White" Guards had opened the front for the Bolsheviks to come through.

Later the British prisoners were marched about 100 miles towards the railway terminus where they were put in cattle trucks and conveyed to the 6th Bolshevik Army Headquarters at Vologda. The food ration consisted of 8oz of black bread, fish soup and hot water. This meagre change of diet greatly impaired their health. Eventually they were moved to Moscow where they were placed in a criminal prison. In the same prison were members of the Russian aristocracy.

Mr George Lansbury's visit.

After a period of confinement, the British prisoners presented a petition for freedom, and were eventually liberated on condition that they did not go outside the confines of Moscow. They eked out their livelihood by doing "odd jobs" but suffered terribly through cold and hunger. A visit was paid to them by an English newspaper correspondent, and Mr George Lansbury, the Labour leader, who, Sapper Leath, declared saw absolutely nothing of the horrors bolshevism because he was guided by Russian Jews, who were careful that only the bright side came under his observation. The people in Moscow were in a stricken condition, being short of food and clothing and moved about "like ghosts". Commerce was at a standstill. In Petrograd matters were even worse. The population of Petrograd before the war was over 3 million and it had been reduced to 700,000. During the past winter, 50,000 people died from typhoid and leprosy was now rampant. Sapper Leath did not receive any letters or parcels from home until last November. Neither was he allowed to send any communication from Russia. He left Moscow on March 8th and on arriving in Finland, received excellent treatment from the Red Cross workers. With about 700 soldiers and civilians, Sapper Leath arrived at Southampton on the 'Tagus' last Saturday, and reached his home at Tregoney on Monday. Despite the hardships through which he had passed, Sapper Leath intends to remain in the army for a few years more.'

Leath married Enid Beryl Bennett on 22 December 1926 at Creed Church, Grampound, Truro, Cornwall. On 1 April 1929, he transferred to the Royal Signals and gained steady promotion, being awarded the 1937 King's Coronation Medal as Company Quartermaster Sergeant. He was appointed W.O.1 on 1 May 1939. Commissioned as Lieutenant on 1 November 1939 as Telecommunications Management Officer, he was promoted Captain 1 November 1945. From 7 June 1940 until 6 July 1947 he was posted to the 3rd Headquarters and Signal Regiment and it was in this capacity that he landed with them in Normandy on D-Day the 7 June 1944.

Between November 1941-March 1943 the regiment moved four times ending up at Dumfries and took part in no less than 28 major exercises. The pace did not slacken then, since the Regiment was to take part in the second Front. The Regiment moved south on 15 April 1944 and entered the final phase of preparation for the invasion of Normandy. The equipment had to be meticulously prepared and waterproofed. The radio sets had to be faultlessly maintained since there could be no line communication during the assault. One gunner net had to net 76 outstations all of which was practised first and worked perfectly on the day. The 3rd British Infantry Division was the first British formation to land at Sword Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, as part of the invasion of Normandy, part of the larger Operation Overlord. For the assault landing, 3rd British Division was organised as a Division Group, with other formations temporarily under its command. These included 27th Armoured Brigade (Sherman DD amphibious tanks) and 22nd Dragoons (Sherman Crab flail tanks), 1st Special Service Brigade and No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando, 5th Royal Marine Independent Armoured Support Battery (Centaur IV close support tanks), 77 and 79 Assault Squadrons of 5th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers (Churchill AVREs).

The Division's own artillery were all self-propelled (field regiments: M7 Priest; anti-tank regiment: M10 tank destroyer) and the SP field guns and RM Centaurs were able to fire from their landing craft during the run-in to the beach. In addition, the 3rd British Division had 101 Beach Sub-Area HQ and No.s 5 and 6 Beach groups under command for the assault phase: these included additional engineers, transport, pioneers, medical services and vehicle recovery sections.

The 3rd Division's brigades were organised as brigade groups for the assault, with 8 Brigade Group making the first landing, followed by 185 Brigade Group and 9 Brigade Group in succession during the morning and early afternoon. The 3rd Headquarters and Signal Regiment were on the left flank of the assault forces with 3rd Infantry Division. They played a full and successful part in the landings and the heavy fighting that followed. The first troops into Caen included some of G section with 33rd Field Regiment R.A.

After D-Day the 3rd Infantry Division fought through the Battle for Caen, in Operation Charnwood and Operation Goodwood. With the fighting in Normandy over after the Battle of the Falaise Gap, the division also participated in the Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine and fought in the Netherlands and Belgium and later the Allied invasion of Germany. For the campaign in Normandy, the Division was commanded by Major-General Tom Rennie until he was wounded on 13 June 1944; Major-General 'Bolo' Whistler, a highly popular commander, took command on 23 June 1944.

The Regiment moved with the Division right through North-West Europe to the banks of the Rhine where the unit had to lay all the cable for the assault Corps. This involved laying 50 miles of heavy cable and 100 miles of Quad; as a result the linemen became highly skilled at handling ploughs and German horses. Lieutenant Colonel Harris commanded the unit during the final phases of the Allied operations in North-West Europe.

Following the Rhine crossing in March 1945, the Regiment was on the move until July when it settled at Warendorf. During the often intense fighting from Sword Beach to Bremen, the 3rd Division suffered 2,586 killed with over 12,000 wounded. Following the German surrender, the Division moved towards central Germany. It was then ordered to Berlin, to become part of the Western Allied garrison, but before a move could be made it was sent to Belgium. It was intended that the Division would be flown to the United States, from where it would join the assault on Japan. With the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War, the move was cancelled.

Captain Leath had been responsible for the maintenance and repair of all communication equipment for the entire Division, in the run up to the invasion and as it pressed forward after landing in France. His services were rewarded with the bestowal of the Belgium Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II with Palme and the Belgium Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palme, (London Gazette25 September 1947). He had been recommended for the awards in October 1945 and was notified of the award in writing by the Adjutant of the 3rd Infantry Division Signals on 30 March 1946.

There was now trouble in Palestine at this time and the Division was sent there in October, 1945 via Egypt. At about this time all men below age and service group 26 were released, and this meant that the regiment virtually became a new Unit, only two of the original officers remaining, perhaps one of these being LEACH, as he served in Palestine between 16th October 1945 and 6 July 1947 as a Staff Captain with the Division as Technical Officer of Maintenance.

It was not until 8 October 1948, that Leach was finally presented with his decorations by the Belgium Ambassador at a ceremony at Lincoln's Inn, London. Various London Gazette entries record him as occupying the roll of either T.M.O. or T.O.M. He was promoted Major on 23 October 1948 and then Lieutenant Colonel on 20 August 1953. Finally in 1955, as Lieutenant Colonel, his position is recorded as Technical Officer of Telecommunications, he retired on 5 October 1955 from the School of Signals. Leath died in March 1972 in Penzance, Cornwall.

Sold together with the following original archive:

(i)
Three assorted Sporting Medals, for: Athletic Sports 1922; S.T.C Relay Championships 1924; 120 yds Hurdles 1926, in boxes of issue.

(ii)
Driving Licence valid from 30 May 1939.

(iii)
Officer's Record of Service Book, which notes his arrival in Normandy on 7 June 1944.

(iv)
Soldiers' Service and Pay Book.

(v)
Wallet presented to returned Servicemen by the town of Grampound (Cornwall) from 1919.

(vi)
A copy of Tregony Happenings, Memories & Photographs of Tregony and District 1886-1921. It makes a note of the entry in the Royal Cornwall Gazette on 20 August 1919 of Leath being "Missing" since 20 July 1919.

(vii)
An assortment of minor badges, medalets, St.John Ambulance Brigade medal to (Elizabeth Bennett) and an Identity disc to E.B.Bennett W.A.A.C. 4707. Elizabeth Bennett appears as his next of kin in his officer's service book.

(viii)
A large folder containing a very detailed archive of research and original documentation to include correspondence relating to him being a P.O.W. in Russia; Letter to his parents dated 1 August 1919; Paperwork relating to his release from capture; Wedding Invitation as given to his parents; Certificate for the Coronation Medal 1937; Warrant to Warrant Officer I, dated 1 May 1939; Military Identity Card, dated 11 May 1944; Warrant for Lieutenant (T.M.O.) dated 1 November 1939; Warrant for Lieutenant (T.M.O.) dated 14 December 1941; Services Clothing Book; British Forces Identification Card, dated 26 November 1945; Various correspondence confirming the award of the two Belgian Medals; Certificate for the Belgian Awards (1 certificate); Certificate for the Coronation 1953; An assortment of original photographs both Civilian and Military; Assorted photocopied research. A very detailed archive.

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Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£1500