The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 2nd April 1847 General Edward Pemberton Leach was born.
The London Gazette 24790. [Victoria Cross, 6th December 1879]. Royal Engineers. Captain (now Major), Edward Pemberton Leach (age 32)
For having, in action with the Shinwarris near Maidanah, Afghanistan, on the 17th March, 1879, when covering the retirement of the Survey Escort who were carrying Lieutenant Barclay, 45th Sikhs, mortally wounded, behaved with the utmost gallantry in charging, with some men of the 45th. Sikhs, a very much larger number of the enemy.
In this encounter Captain Leach killed two or three of the enemy himself, and he received a severe wound from an Afghan knife in the left arm. Captain Leach's determination and gallantry in this affair, in attacking and driving back the enemy from the last position, saved the whole party from annihilation.
The London Gazette 27434. Major-General E. P. Leach (age 54), V.C., .C.B., Royal Engineers, now temporarily Major-General on the Staff Commanding the Troops in the Belfast District, is appointed temporarily Major-General on the Staff to command the 9th Division, 3rd Army Corps. Dated 1st April, 1902.
The London Gazette 27865. Lieutenant-General Edward P. Leach (age 58), V.C., C.V.O., C.B., to be a General Officer Commanding-in-chief, 2nd Class, vice Lieutenant-General Sir C. Tucker, G.C.V.O., K.C. B., retired. Dated 6th December, 1905.
On 9th May 1909 a memorial at the South Aisle, Edinburgh Cathedral [Map] to General William Lockhart by sculptor George Frampton (age 48) was unveiled by General Edward Pemberton Leach (age 62).
General William Lockhart: On 2nd September 1841 he was born to Reverend Laurence Lockhart. On 18th March 1900 General William Lockhart died of malaria. His funeral occurred the following day and the service was taken by James Welldon the Bishop of Calcutta, and former headmaster of Harrow School. Lockhart's good friend and Viceroy Lord Curzon attended.
On 26th April 1913 General Edward Pemberton Leach (age 66) died.