HughAHalliday
31st May 2022, 13:44
From Spink auction catalogue, transcribed by Huguette Mondor Oates.
LEEDHAM, Hugh, Air Commodore – Officer, Order of the British Empire – awarded as per London Gazette dated 3 June 1930.
LEEDHAM, Hugh, Air Commodore – Companion, Order of the Bath – awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1942.
LEEDHAM, Hugh, Air Commodore – Ministry of Aircraft Production – Legion of Merit (United States), awarded as per London Gazette dated 25 April 1947. Recommendation states:
“Air Commodore Hugh Leedham, Royal Air Force, during the period of active hostilities in World War Two, performed exceptionally meritorious service in the field of scientific research and development. As Director of Communications Development in the Ministry of Aircraft Production, he did much to make available to the Allied forces improved radar and radar counter-measures gear, and facilitated arrangements for establishing two American Electronic Fields Stations in Great Britain. Through his scientific interest and by his attitude of cooperation, Air Commodore Leedham rendered service valuable to the United States war effort.”
Air Commodore Hugh Leedham, CB, OBE, was born May 1899 and was educated at Dudley Technical School and Birmingham University, prior to being commissioned into the “Wavy Navy” during the Great War. Transferring to the Royal Air Force in April 1918, he remained a Regular Officer between the Wars, was present in the Kurdistan operations and gained advancement to Group Captain in 1938. Leedham held a number of senior appointments in the 1939-45 War, not least those of Director of Communications Development in the Ministry of Aircraft Production from 1939-43, and Director of Radio Research and Development, M.A.P. from 1943 until the end of hostilities. Placed on the Retired List as an Air Commodore, he was briefly Managing Director of Ericsson Telephones Ltd. until his death in November 1947.
LEEDHAM, Hugh, Air Commodore – Officer, Order of the British Empire – awarded as per London Gazette dated 3 June 1930.
LEEDHAM, Hugh, Air Commodore – Companion, Order of the Bath – awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1942.
LEEDHAM, Hugh, Air Commodore – Ministry of Aircraft Production – Legion of Merit (United States), awarded as per London Gazette dated 25 April 1947. Recommendation states:
“Air Commodore Hugh Leedham, Royal Air Force, during the period of active hostilities in World War Two, performed exceptionally meritorious service in the field of scientific research and development. As Director of Communications Development in the Ministry of Aircraft Production, he did much to make available to the Allied forces improved radar and radar counter-measures gear, and facilitated arrangements for establishing two American Electronic Fields Stations in Great Britain. Through his scientific interest and by his attitude of cooperation, Air Commodore Leedham rendered service valuable to the United States war effort.”
Air Commodore Hugh Leedham, CB, OBE, was born May 1899 and was educated at Dudley Technical School and Birmingham University, prior to being commissioned into the “Wavy Navy” during the Great War. Transferring to the Royal Air Force in April 1918, he remained a Regular Officer between the Wars, was present in the Kurdistan operations and gained advancement to Group Captain in 1938. Leedham held a number of senior appointments in the 1939-45 War, not least those of Director of Communications Development in the Ministry of Aircraft Production from 1939-43, and Director of Radio Research and Development, M.A.P. from 1943 until the end of hostilities. Placed on the Retired List as an Air Commodore, he was briefly Managing Director of Ericsson Telephones Ltd. until his death in November 1947.