Claude Pemberton Leach [also known as Claude Pemberton-Leach] was born in Dublin, Ireland on 18 March 1858. He trained as an architect with Sir Arthur William Blomfield (1829-1899) and remained with him as his assistant. He also attended the Royal Academy Schools in London. He was active as an architect in London from c.1880 onwards. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (A.R.I.B.A.) in 1881. During World War One Leach invented a bomb-throwing catapult called the Leach Trench Catapult. He was also a competition-winning croquet player. Leach died in Parkstone, Dorset on 12 March 1951.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001