Leonard Herbert Emsden
| Leonard Herbert Emsden | |
|---|---|
| Born |
13 November 1893 Bosmere, Suffolk, England |
| Died | 11 November 1976 (aged 82) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | No. 25 Squadron RFC |
| Awards | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
Sergeant Leonard Herbert Emsden DCM was an observer and gunner aboard Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b two-seater airplanes. He began scoring aerial victories during March 1917, continued winning through Bloody April, and capped his career as a flying ace with three victories on 1 May 1917. He was credited with a total of eight confirmed aerial triumphs.
His birthplace is known to be Bosmere, Suffolk, England. His parents were Laura Gant and John Arthur Emsden, who were married in Elmsett, Suffolk, England in 1888. Leonard was the middle child of five in this family, having two elder sisters and two younger brothers. They were orphaned when their father died on 7 February 1898. Laura Emsden would remarry within a year, and supply another daughter to the brood.
Emsden volunteered to join the military in 1914 during World War I to serve his country, and was sent to France in 1915. As a sergeant with the Bedfordshire Regiment, and after 79 commissioned officers were killed in one day, he personally led three bayonet charges up Hill 60 at the Second Battle of Ypres, taking his objective at the third attempt. He also served with distinction at the battles of the Somme, Cambrai, and St. Quentin. Having survived those battles, he volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps.
He ended up in the Royal Flying Corps as an aircraft mechanic in No. 25 Squadron. He became a gunner on the unit's Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b pusher aircraft. As the gunner's duties were described:
From March through May 1917, Emsden was an Air Mechanic 2nd Class assigned to observer/gunner's duty. He was already an ace on 1 May, when he scored two victories on a morning sortie and a third one in the afternoon. He was wounded in action in the hand. His valorous feats would earn him the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which was gazetted on 18 June 1917:
...
Wikipedia