
Alan McLeod was born on 20 April 1899 in Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada, the eldest of two children born to Dr Alexander Neil McLeod and his wife Margaret.

Even from a young age, Alan seemed determined to purse a military career. He enrolled in the 34th Fort Garry Horse in 1913, aged just 14.
Alan attempted to enlist several times in the Canadian Expeditionary Force after the outbreak of the First World War, having been sent away from the Fort Garry Horse for being underage.
He was repeatedly turned away from military service due to his youth, but finally, on his 18th Birthday, he was accepted into the Royal Flying Corps Canada in Toronto.
At first sent to the University of Toronto for training, Alan was transferred to Long Branch and Camp Borden for flight school.
It appears Alan had a natural aptitude for aviation. After just three hours, he was soon flying solo. By the time he graduated in 1917, Alan had 50 hours’ flight time in his logbook.
Alan set sail for the Western Front on 20 August 1917.
Landing in France, the young pilot was at first attached to No. 82 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Upon discovering his new squadron member was just 18 years old, Alan’s squadron leader had him transferred to No. 51 Squadron in England, primarily flying night home defence missions.
Alan was transferred yet again to No.2 Squadron and was back on the Western Front.
Alan flew his first combat mission in December 1917.
With gunner Lieutenant Comber, Alan claimed his first aerial victory in January 1918, dispatching a Fokker Dr.I aircraft. The pair went on to claim an enemy observation balloon. For this action, Alan and Lt. Comber were mentioned in despatches.
On 27 March 1918, flying over Albert in Northern France and the controls of an Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 biplane, Alan and his gunner/observer Lieutenant Arthur Hammond MC engaged and shot down an enemy triplane.
Immediately, the RFC craft was pounced on by eight enemy aircraft. In the ensuing dogfight, Alan and Arthur managed to shoot down three German warplanes.
The pair were both wounded by machine gun bullets and to make matters worse their craft’s petrol tank was punctured, spilling burning fuel across the canvas craft.
With his aircraft aflame, Alan immediately pushed it over into a steep side-slip. Flames scorching him, the young pilot leapt out of his cockpit onto the left wing, crouching low, with the joystick pulled hard over in his right hand.
With his left, Alan smashed a hole in the plane’s fabric, reaching the fuselage and the rudder-wire. In this manner, perched on the wing of his plane, Alan managed to guide his craft back towards friendly lines.
With this action, Alan was able to keep the flames away from the wounded Arthur. The pair eventually crash-landed in No Man’s Land. Alan broke free of the wreckage and was able to drag his partner free from the burning aircraft before finally collapsing from blood loss and exhaustion.
Amazingly, Alan and Arthur both survived this incredible ordeal. Alan had been wounded three times. Arthur had been hit six times and lost a leg as a result but was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross.
For his part, Alan was awarded the Victoria Cross, having originally been Distinguished Service Order.
Alan was sent home to Stonewall to recuperate but sadly contracted Spanish Flu and passed away, aged 19, on 6 November 1918.
Alan was buried in the family plot in Stonewall with a private headstone. In 2017, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone was erected at the plot, alongside a bronze plaque explaining his VC-winning action.
A day after his death, Dr David Christie of Westminster Church, WInnpeg, penned a tribute to the bold airman, as published in the 7 November edition of the Manitoba Free Press:
“Alan McLeod was the finest flower of chivalry. The old days of knighthood are over, but for the very fairest blossoms of the spirit of knighthood the world has had to wait till the 20th Century. It was these dauntless boys who have saved civilization.
“The heroism of the Crusades pales before the incredible and quiet courage of such boys who gave us a new interpretation of Calvary.
“I saw Alan within a few hours of his death. He faced the last enemy with the same joyous confidence with which he started on what he called the very happiest part of his life.
“For our children's children names like Alan McLeod's will be written in letters of splendour in the annals of Canada.”