Thomas Leithead

Bank: Royal Bank of Scotland

Place of work: Newton St Boswells branch

Died: 26 February 1944

Thomas Leithead was born on 6 December 1914, the son of David Leithead. In September 1930, when he was 15 years old, he went to work for the Royal Bank of Scotland as an apprentice at its Hawick branch. In March 1933 he transferred to Newtown St Boswells branch.

In January 1940 Leithead left the bank to go on military service, becoming a wireless operator and air gunner in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in June 1942 for great devotion to duty in operations over Germany.

Flight Lieutenant Leithead was killed in air operations over the North Sea on 26 February 1944. He was 29 years old and left a widow, Lottie.

Thomas Leithead is commemorated on a bank war memorial at 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh.

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Message of remembrance

Sara Brady January 31 2021 00:31AM

I would like to leave a message of remembrance for Thomas Leithead who was married to my Grandmother Lottie Wood. He died the day after her 23rd Birthday. She used to tell us about going with him to Buckingham Palace to collect his Distinguished Flying Medal.

What a brave man who was remembered for all of Lotties life.