Humphrey de Verd Leigh

Humphrey de Verd Leigh
Wing Commander de Verd Leigh
Born	26 July 1897 Aldershot, Hampshire
Died	6 June 1980(1980-06-06) (aged 82)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force
Years of service	1915 – 1919 1939 – 1945
Rank	Wing Commander
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Order of British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross

Wing Commander Humphrey de Verd Leigh, OBE, DFC, AFC (1897–1980) was a Royal Air Force officer.

Leigh's idea during World War II for an anti-submarine spotlight for Coastal Command was developed and named the Leigh Light.

Career

Humphrey de Verd Leigh was born at Aldershot, Hampshire on 26 July 1897, and was commissioned in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in 1915. He served in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) flying seaplanes for the relief of Kut, and went on to serve in the early Royal Air Force (RAF) 1918–19. Resigning his commission in 1919 Leigh went into business, working for many years in the Sudan in the cotton industry. Upon the outbreak of World War II Leigh rejoined the RAF in September 1939, serving in Personnel and Staff Duties for Coastal Command from 1939 until 1945.

His successful development of the Leigh Light, at his own volition and risk, and without approval of his senior commanders at the time made a significant contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic (1942).

Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1943, having been awarded the Air Force Cross on 8 June 1941, in 1954 he resigned his military commission.

De Verd Leigh died on 6 June 1980.

External links

• New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. I), CHAPTER 14 Battle of the Atlantic, 1942. See note 1
• Technical details of the Leigh Light and photo of Wg Cdr de Verd Leigh.
• Imperial War Museum
• RAF Museum