Alan Arnett McLeod
Alan Arnett McLeod | |
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First World War | |
Awards | Victoria Cross |
Alan Arnett McLeod,
Early life
Alan McLeod grew up in
First World War
McLeod was originally posted to
Victoria Cross
McLeod was an 18-year-old second lieutenant in No. 2 Squadron when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 27 March 1918 over
Leutnant
McLeod was recommended for a Distinguished Service Order but received the Victoria Cross. He returned to Canada (Stonewall, Manitoba) to recuperate but died from the Spanish Influenza epidemic shortly thereafter. He was only 5 months away from celebrating his 20th birthday.
Tribute
Dr. David Christie, of Westminster Church, Winnipeg, wrote a moving tribute which appeared in the
Alan McLeod was the finest flower of chivalry. The old days of knighthood are over, but for the very fairest blossoms of the spirit of knighthood the world has had to wait till the 20th Century. It was these dauntless boys who have saved civilization. The heroism of the Crusades pales before the incredible and quiet courage of such boys who gave us a new interpretation of Calvary. I saw Alan within a few hours of his death. He faced the last enemy with the same joyous confidence with which he started on what he called the very happiest part of his life. For our children's children names like Alan McLeod's will be written in letters of splendour in the annals of Canada.
There is a street in Stonewall, Manitoba named after McLeod. His former family home is the McLeod Tea House and Stonewall Collegiate has his likeness as a bust displayed in the high school library.
In 1974 Alan Arnett McLeod, V.C. was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Edmonton, Alberta.[3]
Number 301 (Alan McLeod V.C.) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets was formed in Stonewall, Manitoba on 29 January 2009.
The primary student quarters at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School is named the Lt Alan McLeod Building.[4]
On 9 May 2017, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission stone marker and descriptive bronze plaque was placed next to the McLeod family plot, where he is buried along with his mother (Margaret Annett McLeod, 1877–1966) and father (Dr. Alexander Neil McLeod, 1868–1940). It is unique in that Alan McLeod is the only VC recipient who died on active service to be buried in Canada.
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Alan Arnett McLeod VC family grave marker
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Alan Arnett McLeod VC Commonwealth War Graves Commission marker and plaque
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Alan Arnett McLeod VC Commonwealth War Graves Commission plaque
References
- ^ Voss, Vivian (writing as Roger Vee, 1935). Flying Minnows. John Hamilton Ltd. p. 158.
- ^ "No. 30663". The London Gazette. 30 April 1918. pp. 5287–5288.
- ^ "CAHF". Archived from the original on 10 November 2016.
- ^ "Student Facilities".
- Vee, Roger (1935). Flying Minnows. London: John Hamilton Ltd.