| Surname: | Leonard |
| Initials: | M F |
| Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Army Number: | 268188 |
| Notes: | Provost Officer. Middlesex Regiment. Later APM SHAPE. London Gazette 42056, 4028, 7/6/1960. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. Maj M F Leonard (268188) from Mx., to be Maj, 8/6/1960, with seniority only to 7/9/1955. London Gazette 44625, 7346, 2/7/1968. Corps of Royal Military Police. The undermentioned Maj to be Lt/Col: M F Leonard (268188). 30/6/1968. London Gazette 46901, 7066, 18/5/1970. Corps of Royal Military Police. Regular Army. Lt/Col. M F Leonard OBE. (268188) retires on retired pay, 16/5/1976. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Order of the British Empire (London Gazette: 45554 Page: 6 Jan. 1, 1972) |
| Citation: | New Year Honour List. Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Frank Leonard (268188), APM HQ Supreme Allied Powers Europe. RMP. July 1968 - July 1971.Citation: Lt/Col LEONARD in his appointment as Assistant Provost Marshal has the difficult task of serving a superior officer of a different nationality of the same rank and of directing International police operations and criminal investigation within SHAPE, and directing the physical security for SHAPE installations. His job is a most unusual one since the International Police alone are a mixture of some eleven nations (of twenty-two different services) ranging from members of the Royal naval Regulating Branch to the Italian Carabinieri - a force which has not be benefit of operating under an International code of law. In performing his duties Lt/Col LEONARD has not only shown the normal tact and understanding expected of an officer of his tank in the RMP but has earned the respect and admiration of his US superior and the highest regard of the Commander of his Division - a US Colonel. During a period of some 6 months in 1970 during the illness of the Provost Marshal Lt/Col LEONARD was particularly commended by the Commander of his division who wrote:- "Particularly noteworthy has been his superlative execution of the duties of the SHAPE Provost Marshal which he assumed during the recent extended illness of that officer". Uninformed criticism of the police is normal in any large Headquarters and in this international HQ this naturally prevails - even more so because inevitably some view matters through national eyes only and are unable to see wider issues. But due to Lt/Col LEONARD's extreme tact and cooperation this has never become a problem. He has been solely responsible for organising the big parades at SHAPE, such as for NATO's 25th Birthday, Departure of SACUR, 20th Anniversary of SHAPE, departure of DSACEUR, etc. With international troops at his disposal and no international guide-lines on ceremonial he has devised ceremonial parades which have been great credit, not only to NATO and SHAPE but to the UK. Lt/Col LEONARD has put far more than the expected effort into his job and has done much to enhance the prestige of the British Services here at SHAPE.Recommended by: Col. Deputy Commander, IHSC SHAPE. Maj/Gen. SHAPE. DSACEUR SHAPE. |
Provost Officer Appointments: | |
| No appointments recorded | |