William Leach (Canadian Army officer)
Bill Leach | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1942 Sarnia, Ontario |
| Died | April 1, 2015 (aged 72) Ottawa, Ontario |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ | Canadian Forces |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Chief of the Land Staff |
| 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[edit]
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[edit]
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]
References[edit]
- ^ "Bill Leach". chamblycounty.com. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Military College of Canada – Review Yearbook (Kingston, Ontario Canada)". e-yearbook.com. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Friends of the Canadian War Museum
- ^ a b Brass examinations: career of Canada's Army Commander outshone by those of his peers Esprit de Corps, September 1999
- ^ "New chair appointed to board of trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation". Canadian Museum of History. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Canadian Museum of History Announces the Passing of Lieutenant-General Bill Leach". 1 April 2015.
- ^ Ottawa Valley Guide
- ^ "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. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen More David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen. "Former Canadian Army commander Bill Leach passes away". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
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