The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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209573 Sgt. Nigel Gray Leakey VC. British Colonial Army 1/6th Battalion King's African Rifles from:Kenya (d.19th May 1941) Nigel Gray Leakey was born on 1st od January 1913 in Kiganjo, Kenya,he was 28 years old, and a sergeant in the 1/6th Battalion, King's African Rifles during the Second World War when he was awarded the VC. "On 19 May 1941 at Kolito, Abyssinia, when the Allied forces had made a bridgehead against the strong Italian opposition, the enemy made a sudden counter attack with both light and medium tanks. In the face of withering fire, Sergeant Leakey leaped on top of one of the tanks, wrenched open the turret and shot all the crew except the driver, whom he forced to drive the tank to cover. Along with three others, he tried to repeat this with another tank, but just as he opened the turret, he was killed. The confusion and loss of armour Leakey caused was critical to the Italian defeat in the battle. Captain David Hines witnessed the event through binoculars, as did other soldiers." Leakey has no known grave and is commemorated on the East Africa Memorial, near Nairobi, Kenya. S. Flynn Add to this record.  Related Content: Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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