McPherson, LA
(1898 - 1917)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
9th July 1898
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1910 - 1915
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
203 Rosendale Road, West Dulwich
REGIMENT
Royal Flying Corps
FINAL RANK:
2nd Lieutenant
DATE OF DEATH:
28th July 1917
AGE AT DEATH:
19
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Bethune
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery Extension. D 8
2nd Lieutenant Leonard Alfred McPherson
Born on July 9th 1898, Leonard was the son of Alfred McPherson, who worked for the Bank of England, and his wife, Mary. He spent just over five years at the College, between February 1910 and the summer of 1915, during which time he was a boarder in The Orchard and a committed member of the O.T.C., eventually reaching the rank of Colour Sergeant.
After leaving Dulwich, Leonard joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. and spent time at cadet schools at Denham and Oxford. He was gazetted to a commission in January 1917, and after qualifying as a scout pilot proceeded to the continent that May. He joined No. 43 Squadron and flew reconnaissance and scouting missions for the next three months; although not naturally inclined to combat, he did bring down at least one enemy machine. He was killed on July 28th 1917, fatally shot from the ground whilst flying low on a scouting mission.
