McLeod, Alan Arnett Victoria Cross Recipient

McLeod, Alan Arnett (1899-1918). Born in Stonewall, Manitoba, McLeod served with the Royal Flying Corps. On March 27, 1918, while flying near the Somme, McLeod's Armstrong Whitworth bomber was attacked by a German Fokker and burst into flames. When the floor of the aircraft fell out McLeod climbed onto the wing and controlled the aircraft from there. His observer Lieutenant Hammond, perched on the edge of the rear cockpit, managed to shoot down a Fokker. After landing his burning plane, a wounded McLeod dragged his companion to safety. He then collapsed from exhaustion and loss of blood just as they were being rescued by South African troops. At the age of eighteen, Lieutenant Alan McLeod was awarded the Victoria Cross. Unfortunately, on November 6, 1918, McLeod died at Winnipeg General Hospital.

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