Died 1969 | ||
Sir John Leale was a Guernsey Jurat, who during World War Two assumed the role as President of the States of Guernsey Controlling Committee during the Occupation of the Island by the Germans in World War II. He was also a Methodist minister.
Leale assumed his role at the head of the executive committee following the deportation of his predecessor, Ambrose Sherwill. Leale conducted his role with a considerable degree of skill, although, like his peers on the Controlling Committee, he had never had any training in diplomatic relations. He prioritised passive collaboration with the Germans in the interests of his charge, the islanders. Therefore, he took a dim view of acts of resistance. As such, he and Bailiff Victory Carey have been the subjects of considerable criticism. Nevertheless, Leale comes across as an intelligent and compassionate man, and was willing to stand firm against the Germans where he considered that they were in violation of the Hague Convention, which after the war he stated that the controlling committee had 'wed' themselves to.
He was knighted on 11 December 1945, despite being labeled a traitor during the German occupation.
An avenue and a building on Guernsey are named after him.