Leonard Cheshire
| The Lord Cheshire | |
|---|---|
Group Captain Leonard Cheshire c. 1943
|
|
| Born |
7 September 1917 Chester, Cheshire, England, UK |
| Died | 31 July 1992 (aged 74) Cavendish, Suffolk |
| Buried at | Cavendish Churchyard |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1937–1946 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit |
No. 102 Squadron RAF No. 35 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held |
No. 76 Squadron RAF RAF Marston Moor No. 617 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Member of the Order of Merit Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
| Spouse(s) |
Constance Binney (1941–51) Sue Ryder (1959–92) |
| Relations | Geoffrey Chevalier Cheshire (father) |
| Other work | Humanitarian |
Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC (7 September 1917 – 31 July 1992) was a highly decorated Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot during the Second World War and later philanthropist.
Among the honours Cheshire received as a pilot is the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was the youngest group captain in the RAF and one of the most highly decorated pilots of the war, but after serving as the British observer on the Nagasaki nuclear attack he resigned from the air force. He founded a hospice that grew into the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, and he became known for his work in conflict resolution; he was created Baron Cheshire in 1991 in recognition of his charitable work.
Leonard Cheshire was the son of Geoffrey Chevalier Cheshire, a barrister, academic and influential writer on English law. He had one brother, Christopher Cheshire, also a wartime pilot. Cheshire was born in Chester, but was brought up at his parents' home near Oxford. Cheshire was educated at the Dragon School, Oxford, Stowe School and Merton College, Oxford. At Stowe he was taught English by the fantasy novelist T. H. White. Whilst at Oxford he became friends with John Niel Randle. On one occasion at Oxford he was bet half a pint of beer that he could not walk to Paris with no more than a few pennies in his pocket; he won his bet. He went to stay in Germany in 1936 with the family of Ludwig von Reuter in Potsdam and whilst there, witnessed an Adolf Hitler rally. Cheshire caused considerable offence by pointedly refusing to give the Nazi salute. Cheshire graduated in jurisprudence in 1939.
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