ALAN McLEOD, V. C.
The Great War added to the records of British valor countless deeds of unequalled bravery. In that war, the most terrible ever fought, the manhood of our Empire set new standards of gallantry for our race. The sea, the land, the air bear witness to their courage. The Air Force especially gave hundreds of examples of the most splendid courage and devotion. Our pilots, most of them mere youths, showed wonderful dash and skill. Many of them won military honors by their fearless exploits. Conspicuous among these was Lieutenant Alan McLeod, who was awarded the most coveted of all decorations—the Victoria Cross.
Alan Arnett McLeod was born at Stonewall, Manitoba. He was attending school there when war broke out, and, like many another Canadian lad, waited eagerly for the time when his age would permit him to join the Air Force. Three days after his eighteenth birthday he left to report at Toronto, and reached France as a commissioned officer in December, 1917.
On March 21st, 1918, came the last great German offensive. Half a million of their best troops were hurled, with terrific force against the Fifth British Army. The British line was bent and broken, and through the gaps poured the masses of German infantry in victorious advance. The tide of battle swept back over the costly ground won in the Somme campaign, back over the old British lines, and paused only when fresh divisions faced the Germans on the line before Amiens.
During our retreat the Allied airmen worked tirelessly to hamper the German troops. Bombs and machine-guns took terrible toll of the marching columns of gray-coats. The German airmen did their utmost to drive our pilots from the air, and the monotony of bombing was varied by the more exciting dangers of air duels, The air was full of German squadrons, and, until now dispositions could be made of our air strength, our men had to fight against very heavy odds.