William Leach (Canadian Army officer) explained

Bill Leach
Rank:Lieutenant General
Branch:Canadian Forces
Commands:Chief of the Land Staff
Allegiance: Canada
Birth Date:6 November 1942
Birth Place:Sarnia, Ontario
Death Place:Ottawa, Ontario
Awards:Commander of the Order of Military Merit
Canadian Forces' Decoration

Lieutenant-General William Charles Leach CMM, CD (November 6, 1942 – April 1, 2015) was the Chief of the Land Staff of the Canadian Forces.[1] [2]

Military career

Leach graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a degree in Economics and Commerce in 1965 and was commissioned into the Canadian Army.[3] He went on to command a Logistic Battalion.[4] From 1977 he worked in a series of senior administrative and finance positions at National Defence Headquarters[3] and from 1987 he held various supply and logistics appointments there.[3]

In 1995 he was appointed Deputy Commander at Canadian Forces Land Force Command[4] and in 1997 he became Chief of the Land Staff, a post he held until Summer 2000.[3]

In 2000 he was appointed a Vice President Operations with Honeywell Canada Logistic Services[3] and in 2005 he was made a Vice President of Mincom Defence.[3] Leach was Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Museum of History.[5] He was also a board member of the Royal Ottawa Hospital.[6] Leach was also on the Executive Committee of the Military Families Fund and was the Colonel Commandant of the Logistics Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces.[6]

Family

He was married to Canadian artist Mary Louise Leach, who died in 2003; Both he and his wife are buried at The National Military Cemetery at Beechwood. They had three children.[7] Leach died in Ottawa on April 1, 2015.[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bill Leach. chamblycounty.com. 5 April 2015.
  2. Web site: Royal Military College of Canada – Review Yearbook (Kingston, Ontario Canada). e-yearbook.com. 5 April 2015.
  3. http://www.friends-amis.org/bio_leach_e.html Friends of the Canadian War Museum
  4. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6972/is_4_7/ai_n28757090/ Brass examinations: career of Canada's Army Commander outshone by those of his peers
  5. Web site: New chair appointed to board of trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. Canadian Museum of History. 13 February 2017.
  6. Web site: Canadian Museum of History Announces the Passing of Lieutenant-General Bill Leach. 1 April 2015.
  7. http://www.ottawavalleyguide.ca/archives/dnarchivel.html Ottawa Valley Guide
  8. Web site: Canadian Armed Forces announce the passing of former Commander of the Canadian Army – Retired Lieutenant-General leaves behind a strong legacy of military service. Canadian Armed Forces. 5 April 2015.
  9. Web site: Former Canadian Army commander Bill Leach passes away. David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen More David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa Citizen. 5 April 2015.