From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach, GCB, DL (born 1923) is a former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy.

Sir Henry Leach was First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff between 1979 and 1982. He was the professional head of the Royal Navy at the time of the Falklands War and was instrumental in convincing the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that retaking the islands was possible.

Sir Henry Leach joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1937 at the age of 13, following in the footsteps of his father. In 1941, as a Midshipman he was assigned to HMS Prince of Wales, however before he could take up post on board, his father, Captain John Leach was given command. As a result he was reassigned to HMS Mauritius. HMS Prince of Wales was sunk by the Japanese off Singapore, his father one of the many casualties.

In December 1943, he was present as a junior officer in HMS Duke of York at the Battle of North Cape.

In 1970 he was given command of HMS Albion. He was popular with many of his junior officers during that time.

On 31st March 1982, soon after the Argentinian invasion of the Falklands, he brushed aside serious doubts from the Secretary of State for Defence Sir John Nott, and marched into visit the Prime Minister in full uniform. He was asked if retaking the islands was possible, he replied "Yes we can recover the islands." He then added "and we must!" Thatcher replied "Why?" he replied "because if we don’t do that, in a few months we will be living in a different country whose word will count for little!" This pleased Thatcher who then proceeded to give the order for the task force to set sail to retake the Falklands.

The Falklands campaign was successful, in no small part, thanks to Sir Henry Leach among others. He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet upon retirement in late 1982.

The new (2004) Fleet Headquarters building of the Royal Navy at Whale Island, Portsmouth was named the "Sir Henry Leach Building" in his honour.

v • d • e

First Sea Lords of the Royal Navy

Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe • Sir Peter Parker • Prince William, Duke of Clarence • Sir George Cockburn • Sir Thomas Hardy • The Hon. George Heneage Dundas • Charles Adam • Sir Charles Adam • Sir William Parker • Sir Charles Adam • James Whitley Deans Dundas • Hyde Parker • The Hon. Maurice Fitzhardinge Berkeley • William Fanshawe Martin • The Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas • The Hon. Sir Frederick Grey • Sir Sydney Dacres • Sir Alexander Milne • Sir Hastings Yelverton • George Wellesley • Sir Astley Cooper Key • Sir Arthur Acland Hood • Lord John Hay • Sir R. Vesey Hamilton • Sir Anthony Hoskins • Sir Frederick Richards • Lord Walter Kerr • Sir Jackie Fisher • Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson • Sir Francis Bridgeman • Prince Louis of Battenberg • Sir Henry Jackson • Sir John Jellicoe • Sir Rosslyn Wemyss • The Earl Beatty • Sir Charles Madden, Bt • Sir Frederick Field • The Lord Chatfield • Sir Roger Backhouse • Sir Dudley Pound • The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope • Sir John Cunningham • The Lord Fraser of North Cape • Sir Rhoderick McGrigor • The Earl Mountbatten of Burma • Sir Charles Lambe • Sir Caspar John • Sir David Luce • Sir Varyl Begg • Sir Michael Le Fanu • Sir Peter Hill-Norton • Sir Michael Pollock • Sir Edward Ashmore • Sir Terence Lewin • Sir Henry Leach • Sir John Fieldhouse • Sir William Staveley • Sir Julian Oswald • Sir Benjamin Bathurst • Sir Jock Slater • Sir Michael Boyce • Sir Nigel Essenhigh • Sir Alan West • Sir Jonathon Band •