| Leigh | Chandos | | Lieutenant | LEIGH, CHANDOS, Lieutenant, was born in August 1873, son of the Honourable Sir E Chandos Leigh, KC, of 45, Upper Grosvenor Street, London, and of Lady Leigh. He was educated at Harrow and Cambridge, and joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers, through the Warwickshire Militia, 29 May 1895, becoming Lieutenant 22 Sept, 1897. He served in the South African War, 1900-2, employed with the Mounted Infantry, and took part in the Relief of Kimberley; operations in Orange Free State, 1900, including operations at Paardeberg; actions at Poplar Grove, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill; operations in Orange River Colony in 1900, including actions at Wittebergen and Bothaville; operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with six clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September. 1901]: "Chandos Leigh, Lieutenant, King's Own Scottish Borderers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented to him by the King 29 October 1901. He was promoted to Captain 1 April 1901. Captain Leigh then spent ten years in the Egyptian Army. He took part in the operations against the Nyam Nyam Tribes in the Bahr-el-Ghazal Province, and received the Orders of the Medjidie and Osmanieh, and the Bahr-el-Ghazal Medal and clasp. Major Leigh went to France with his regiment, and was reported missing on the 23rd August 1914, at Mons. When last seen he was, though wounded, waving his men on, and telling them not to mind about him. Six months later returned wounded prisoners reported that he died in August 1914, of wounds received in action at Mons. He was the first Harrovian to fall in the war. His only brother, Lieutenant E H Leigh, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, was killed on the Aubers Ridge in May 1915, and their grief-stricken father died three days later. Major Leigh was a fine steeple-chase rider and polo player, as well as a keen cricketer and rider to hounds. He married Winifred, daughter of Right Honourable A F Jeffreys, MP, of Buckham, Hampshire.
DSO, QSA (6) CC Paard Drief Joh D-H Witt SA 01 (Capt KOSB), Order of the Osmanieh (Turkey) 4th Class, Khedives Sudan Nyam Nyam. Spink 1981 £1,200. Spink 1983 £1,200. Spink £1985 £1,100. Spink 1989 £985.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | King's Own Scottish Borderers |
