Peter Leitch (VC)

Peter Leitch
Born	August 1820 Orwell, Kinross-shire, Scotland
Died	6 December 1892 (aged 72) Fulham, London
Buried	Hammersmith Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Sergeant-Major
Unit	Royal Engineers
Battles/wars	Crimean War
Awards	Victoria Cross Légion d'Honneur (France)

Peter Leitch VC (August 1820 – 6 December 1892) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Leitch was about 35 years old, and a colour-sergeant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 18 June 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea, Colour-Sergeant Leitch, after approaching the Redan with the leading ladders, formed a caponniere across the ditch as well as a ramp by fearlessly tearing down gabions from the parapet and placing and filling them until he was disabled from wounds.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham, Kent.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

External links

• Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
• Location of grave and VC medal (W. London)