Leonard Leach was born in Osaquan, Ontario. Osaquan was a community that existed from the early 20th Century
to the mid 1930s and was located about 5 miles west of Ignace. The economy of Osaquan was centered around a sawmill
operation. Osaquan attained a population of about 45 families during the peak of economic activity in that area.
By the time of the Great Depression, the sawmill operations were closed and almost all families had left the area and moved
elsewhere.
Leonard's father was a Canadian soldier during the First World War. Leonard's mother's family (Weston)
originated from England.
Leila-May (Wilson) Ferguson has written a record of her time growing up in Osaquan during the 1920s up to 1935. Her recorded memories are interesting in that they shed light on life in rural North-Western Ontario during the early 20th century.
According to Mrs. Fergusons written account, young people in Osaquan grew up living in log homes, without electricity, with only wood burning heaters and cooking stoves. The log homes were insulated with sawdust and wood shavings and banked with snow to further protect the homes in winter.
Leila, who was Leonards first cousin, has documented the times she spent with him. Children such as Leonard spent the early part of their lives in the outdoors. Leonard took pleasure in snowshoeing during the wintertime, and swimming in the summertime. Leonard enjoyed showing the other children the feats he had accomplished on the trapeze his father had built. Leonard, to the dismay of his mother and aunt, once challenged Leila to walk a picket fence that led to the roof of a neighbors garage.
One story that led to a disagreement between Leila and Leonard gives us further insight into Leonards character. Leila accompanied Leonard to the snares that he had set up to trap rabbits and other animals. When Leila saw a frozen rabbit that Leonard had snared, she broke into tears and quickly snow shoed home. When Leonard caught up to her, he did not understand why she was so upset. After Leonards mother explained to Leonard why a young girl such as Leila would be upset viewing a dead animal, Leonard relinquished his snaring activities. Later he confessed that he never really enjoyed that pursuit. He only did it to show his friends that he too could snare just as well as they.
It is documented in writing that Leonard was awarded first prize for high marks while attending Osaquan public school. In 1932, Leonards family moved to Dryden where he attended public and high school. In 1938 Leonard received his senior matriculation from Dryden High School. From 1938 until October 1940, when he enlisted with the Air Force, Leonard was employed at the Royal Bank in Dryden.
While employed at the Royal bank, Leonard was paid a salary of about 28 dollars a month. This was raised to 32 dollars per month during Leonard's second year at the bank.
After receiving his training as a flight navigator of a Lancaster bomber, Leonard arrived overseas in December 1941. On October 1942, after returning from a bombing mission over Kiel, Germany, Leonards plane was damaged by flack and crashed into a hill in Yorkshire, England. As a navigator of a Lancaster, Leonard was in the nose of the plane and was the only one of his crew who was killed. He was buried on October 19, 1942 in the St. Luke's churchyard in Milland, West Sussex. This was the nearest church to Leonard's uncle's home. To coincide with the funeral overseas, a memorial service was held at St. Lukes church in Dryden. Groups representing the high school, and the Canadian Legion were present at the service, which filled the church.
It must be noted that Dryden High School lost five alumni, and the community of Dryden lost five airman within a span of 2 months in the fall of 1942. James Thomas Reid went missing over northern Europe on September 13. Roy Allan Evans was killed in plane crash in British Columbia on October 2. Leonard Charles Leach was killed in a plane crash in England on October 14. Frank George James and Frank Levi Olsen, both stationed over Malta, went missing on November 10, 1942.
In a Canadian Press article in the Winnipeg Tribune of August 3,
the name of Pilot Officer
Leonard Leach appears as being among one of the Canadian fliers taking
part in the recent
raid over Duesseldorf. All of the nine Canadians were pleased with results
and expressed joy in
being able to make the trip over Germany.
Of almost an hour's duration, the attack ruined about half of
the munitions-making city says
the report.
In a letter received by the parents of F.O. Leonard Leach, who was killed on active service,
his commanding officer is highly complimentary. "Of his capabilities as a navigator" he adds to other
remarks, "I had the highest opinion".
Apparently, Leonard's aircraft was damaged by flak, knocking some of the insturments out of commission, with
the result the plane went off course to strike into a chain of hills.
LEACH-In loving memory of our
dear son and brother, Leonard
Leach, on his birthday, Nov 11
God has taken our jewel
For a well-earned rest.
He has not gone
He is just away
Waiting for us to follow him someday
-Inserted by Mother, Dad and Johnnie
It must be noted that Dryden High School lost five alumni, and the community of Dryden lost five airmen within a span of 2 months in the fall of 1942. James Thomas Reid went missing over northern Europe on September 13. Roy Allan Evans was killed in plane crash in British Columbia on October 2. Leonard Charles Leach was killed in a plane crash in England on October 14. Frank Jerald James and Frank Levi Olsen, both stationed over Malta, went missing on November 10, 1942.