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Leech, William Norbert

Date of birth:
1913 (Manchester/Lancashire, England)
Date of death:
September 25th, 1944 (Oosterbeek/Gelderland, The Netherlands)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Grave Municipal Cemetery Lienden
Service number:
3659800
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Rank during Operation Market Garden:
Corporal

Biography:
Corporal William Norbert Leech was reported missing on 25 September 1944 and subsequently Missing in Action. According to a letter dated 10 July 1945 by Sergeant Thomas J. Gaffey (5731952) to the War Office Casualty Branch, this is what happened to Corporal William Norbert Leech in the morning of 26 September 1944:

"Sir:

Regarding personnel on attached list.
Cpl. W. Leech (3659800), presumed killed in action was my 2 i/c and the last I saw of him was in the early hours of the morning of 26th September 1944. He entered the river in the vicinity of Arnhem with the intention of swimming across to the allied side. There was a rather strong current of four or five knots running. He was about 5 feet-5 inch-6 fair, fresh complexion and I believe came from Manchester area.
"

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Sources

  • - British Army casualty lists - Other Ranks 1577(27), 1829(6)
    - War Office: Enquiries into Missing Personnel, 1939-45 War
    - CWGC Casualty details
    - ‘"Roll of Honour" Battle of Arnhem September 1944’ 5th revised edition 2011, compiled by J A Hey