b. ? d. 29/04/1952 Johannesburg, South Africa.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 14/11/1930 Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia.
Little is known about the life of Leonard Pemberton. It is known that he served during the South African War of 1899-1902 and the Great War of 1914-1918. He received his Albert Medal at an investiture in Livingstone on 3rd June 1932. He and his wife recorded an interview called “Dodging the Albert Medal” in 1938 in Australia. He died in Johannesburg in 1952.
AM CITATION:
On the 14th November, 1930, a number of children were bathing in the Zambesi River at Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia, at a point where a wire enclosure, no longer crocodile proof, had been made some time ago. One of the boys was seen suddenly to disappear. Mr. Pemberton, who was sitting on the bank, dived in fully clothed and despite the fact that he was convalescing from a recent illness, made repeated attempts to save the boy from a crocodile which was holding him under water. Mr. Pemberton was fully aware that he was close to a man-eating crocodile which might at any moment have turned and attacked him and in acting as he did displayed courage of a very high degree. Mr. Pemberton was unfortunately unsuccessful in his efforts to bring the victim to the surface.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ALBANY MUSEUM, GRAHAMSTOWN, SOUTH AFRICA.
