Canada, Commonwealth. A Memorial Cross, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, Died As The Result Of Drowning

George V (W.E. LEARD ABLE SEAMAN R.C.N.V.R.). Naming is engraved. In sterling silver, maker marked "BMCo.", marked "STERLING" and 925 minimum silver standard marked on the reverse, suspended from a silver bow-tied ribbon with pinback, contact marks, very fine.

Footnote: Wellesley Everett Leard was born on February 16 (some say 15), 1921 in Windsor, Hants County, Nova Scotia, the son of James Everett Leard and Myrtle Livida (Henneberry) Leard, later of Saint John, New Brunswick. His mother was born in Spencer Island, Nova Scotia, while his father was born in Wallace, Nova Scotia, his parents married in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia in 1917. Wellesley Leard himself enjoyed playing hockey and baseball. He was living with his mother in East Saint John and was employed as an Orderly in County Hospital when he signed his Attestation Paper as an Ordinary Seaman (V2456) with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, on July 25, 1940 at Saint John, New Brunswick, at the age of 19, stating that he had nine and a half weeks previous service as a Gunner with the 15th Heavy Battery, 3rd Coastal Brigade, Royal Canadian Artillery, from June 27 to September 1, 1939, that his religion was United Church of Canada and that his trade was that of Painter. After enlisting, Leard was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia where he was posted to base at HMCS Stadacona for training on August 22, 1940. Four months later, his character was noted as "Very Good" on December 31, 1940. He was then assigned to the armed yacht HMCS Reindeer for Atlantic service on January 3, 1941 and promoted to Able Seaman on May 12th. He returned to HMCS Stadacona on May 24th, which was soon followed by his assignment to the armed cabin cruiser HMCS Hochelaga on June 11th, which was followed twenty-five days later by his posting to the Flower-class corvette HMCS Lethbridge on July 6th. While serving with HMCS Lethbridge, Able Seaman Leard ran afoul of the authorities, as he "1. Did improperly leave His Majesty's ship "Lethbridge" at 1700 on August 3, 1941, being apprehended by the Civil Authorities on Hollis Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, at 2240, on August 4, 1941, thereby remaining absent without leave for 9 hours and 40 minutes." and "2. Did improperly leave His Majesty's ship "Lethbridge" at about 2130, on August 4 1941, whilst under open arrest, being apprehended by Charles Joseph Kelly, Petty Officer, Official Number 2163, at Camilles Cafe, Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, at about 2215, August 4, 1941, thereby remaining absent without leave about 45 minutes." According to the Halifax City Police Court Report, Leard was again found to be "drunk in a Public Place" on August 4, 1941 at 0240 and found himself in Lunenburg County Jail for 28 days detention, which was later reduced to 18 days. He was with the depot ship HMCS Sambro on August 7, 1941, when he was cited for "Improper Leave" and sentenced to 28 days' detention. He once again returned to HMCS Stadacona on September 1st, before being posted to the to the Flower-class corvette HMCS Dauphin for his second Atlantic service on September 2nd. Thanks to his disciplinary failings, Able Seaman Learn's character was now noted as "Fair" as of December 31, 1941, a far cry from the "Very Good" he had earned a year earlier. He departed Halifax and was sent to St. John's, Newfoundland where he was posted to base at HMCS Avalon on February 8, 1942.

Ten weeks later he was assigned to HMCS Captor II at Saint John, New Brunswick on April 17th. Upon the outbreak of war, office space was rented in the city of Saint John by the Royal Canadian Navy. Then, on September 26, 1941, Dredge No. 1, a disused barge of the Saint John Department of Public Works, was taken over as a naval barracks and commissioned as "HMCS Captor II". Unquestionably the ugliest vessel ever to serve as a Royal Canadian Navy depot ship, Captor II gave her name to the Saint John naval establishment. It would remain in service until the summer of 1942, when it was condemned by the medical authorities. Its name, however, lived on as that of the depot ship at Saint John. A little over two weeks after his arrival at Captor II, he ran afoul of the authorities again, as he "was guilty of an act to the prejudice of good order and Naval Discipline in that he did cause a disturbance on Cobourg Street in the city of Saint John, New Brunswick at 2050 hours on May 3, 1942, namely by firing a B.B. gun on civilians. Was improperly dressed ashore on Cobourg Street at 2050 hours namely by being without his collar jumper, silk and wearing a civilian sweater". This time, things were a bit harsher for him, as he was sentenced to 42 days at the Military Detention Barracks at Saint John. Able Seaman Leard would see Atlantic service twice more. He began service with the examination vessel HMCS Zoarces on June 12, 1942, which lasted four days, before returning to Captor II on June 16th for three weeks, before being assigned to the examination vessel HMCS Murray Stewart for eleven days on July 7th, before returning to Captor II on July 18th. For the next twenty weeks, things remained uneventful for Able Seaman Leard, until the night of Friday, November 27, 1942. At 1800 hours, he was one of four ratings who proceeded to relieve the guard watch on the CD110 (a coastal drifter - patrol boat) at the Imperial Oil Dock in Courtenay Bay in Saint John: A5389 Stoker 1st Class James Wright, V23700 Stoker 1st Class Lindsay Beyer, V31010 O.D. William Wenting, and V2456 Able Seaman Wellesley Everett Leard. Chief Petty Officer McGinnis took them to CD110, noting that they were sober but one of the ratings had a small flask of whisky. McGinnis indicated that they should not have it, but the reply to him was "it could do no harm to anyone", which would prove to be haunting words. At 1925 hours, the Saint John City Police received a call from some of the Diamond Construction Company's employees, who were constructing new docks, stating "that some men were involved in an accident to a boat near their wharf". The police investigated the scene and found Stoker 1st Class Beyer in the bunk house of the Construction Company. Beyer stated that he was one of the three ratings who attempted to come ashore in a dory from the CD110, where they were supposed to be on duty. The dory then capsized some 100 yards of so from the CD110, the water about 15 feet deep at the point of the capsizing.

After his police interview, Beyer was taken to St. James Military Hospital for treatment, as he was recovering from slight shock. Stoker 1st Class Wright was rescued by a motor boat owned by the Construction Company and taken to the same hospital. At 2015 hours, Petty Officer Conway described the scene to the authorities at HMCS Captor II and feared that Able Seaman Leard had been lost. Chief Petty Officer McGinnis, who had earlier taken the four ratings to their guard watch assignment, went to CD110 and found O.D. Wenting on board and in his bunk. Wenting was asked where his crew was and his reply as that he didn't know. He had heard the three of the them talking, that were were going ashore. He himself would take the last watch, so he turned in. In regards to the accident itself, two of the Construction Company employees confirmed that Beyer and Leard tried to swim ashore. Wright had held onto the boat, as his leg was caught in the oak lock. Leard had gone down twice in the cold water. Beyer had begun to drag him, but he had to let him go, as he himself was exhausted and this was the last time that Leard was seen alive. Witnesses had noted that the "three did not act in a normal way" in the dory, as they began "rocking the boat and carrying on, when suddenly it 'shipped' water and finally capsized". The evidence was not conclusive as to whether or not they had been drinking, one report stating that it was "not conclusive that they were under the complete influence of liquor". It was noted that Able Seaman Leard had been seen in the office at the Base (Captor II) at 1715 with a bottle of whiskey. His body was later recovered from the cold waters of Courtenay Bay. In his records, V2456 Able Seaman Wellesley Everett Leard, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve was officially "discharged" on November 27, 1942, due to an "accidental "drowning" in Courtenay Bay, East Saint John, New Brunswick, at the age of 21. He is buried in Saint John (Fernhill) Cemetery, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Grave Reference: Lot 3893, Grave 129 and is commemorated on page 89 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945. His father, James E. Leard received his medals, while his mother received his Memorial Cross. A Commissioners gathering ruled after his death that: "Pensions is not indicated. Dependency at death has not been established". His brother, Private Albert Douglas Leard, who was born on August 16, 1919, also served during the Second World War. He was the son of Myrtle (Henneberry) Leard, and the late James Leard, of Saint John, New Brunswick, as well as being the brother of Wellesley, Elisabeth, Kenneth, Rhoeena and Jean. In addition, he was the husband of Agnes (née Brown) Dawson Leard Poirier and father of Jean Leard and Sheila Leard of Saint John. Albert Douglas Leard enlisted as a Private (G/17097) with the Carleton and York Regiment, on September 11, 1939 in Saint John, New Brunswick, at the age of 20. He was later promoted to Lance Corporal. G/17097 Private Albert Douglas Leard, Carleton and York Regiment, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, died on December 4, 1947, at the age of 28, and was also laid to rest in the Saint John (Fernhill) Cemetery in Saint John, Grave Reference: Lot 5769, Grave 4. He is commemorated on page 609 of Canada's Second World War Book of Remembrance. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp, and the War Medal 1939-1945.