wing and crouched low, with the joystick pulled hard over in his right hand. Then he smashed a hole through the fabric in the fuselage so that he could reach the rudder-wire with his left hand, and so he guided her towards the lines. In this way he kept the flames away from his wounded observer and prevented the aircraft from burning up. When the machine finally crashed in No Man's Land, the young pilot, not minding his own injuries, dragged his comrade from the burning wreckage and under heavy fire carried him to comparative safety, before collapsing from exhaustion and loss of blood. Leutnant Hans Kirschstein of Jasta 6, an experienced ace was credited with the victory. McLeod was wounded three times in the side and Hammond was wounded six times. Hammond lost a leg but was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross. McLeod was recommended for a Distinguished Service Order but received the Victoria Cross. He returned to Canada (Stonewall, Manitoba) to recuperate but died from the Spanish Influenza epidemic shortly thereafter. He was only 5 months away from celebrating his 20th birthday. Tribute Dr. David Christie, of Westminster Church, Winnipeg, wrote a moving tribute which appeared in the Manitoba Free Press on the evening of 7 November, the day after McLeod's death. There is a street in Stonewall, Manitoba named after McLeod. His former family home is the McLeod Tea House and Stonewall Collegiate has his likeness as a bust displayed in the high school library. In 1974 Alan Arnett McLeod, V.C. was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Edmonton, Alberta. Number 301 (Alan McLeod V.C.) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets was formed in Stonewall, Manitoba on 29 January 2009. The primary student quarters at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School is named the Lt Alan McLeod Building. On 9 May 2017, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission stone marker and descriptive bronze plaque was placed next to the McLeod family plot, where he is buried along with his mother (Margaret Annett McLeod, 1877–1966) and father (Dr. Alexander Neil McLeod, 1868–1940). It is unique in that Alan McLeod is the only VC recipient who died on active service to be buried in Canada. References External links Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online Alan McLeod Short biography of Alan Arnett McLeod on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial Legion Magazine Article