Leonard Miles

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Leonard James Miles (27 January 1904 – 21 September 1940) was a British Air Raid Precautions warden and building contractor who served in the Civil Defence Service during World War II. During the night of 21/22 September 1940, during a Luftwaffe raid on Ilford, Essex, Miles ran toward danger to warn people about a nearby parachute mine instead of retreating to safety. He was mortally wounded when the mine exploded, but remained conscious and refused first aid, insisting that a nearby gas fire be dealt with first. He died about 24 hours later at King George Hospital in Ilford. Miles was cremated on 26 September 1940 and his ashes were scattered at the City of London Cemetery. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his gallantry, with the award notice published in The London Gazette on 17 January 1941. He was born in West Ham, London, and is buried in Newham, England.