LESLIE, John Arthur
| Service Number: | 162888 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 April 1944 |
| Last Rank: | Leading Aircraftman |
| Last Unit: | RAAF Eastern Area Headquarters (Sydney) |
| Born: | Stockton, New South Wales, Australia, 15 February 1926 |
| Home Town: | Stockton, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Boilermaker |
| Died: | Cancer, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia, 20 July 2005, aged 79 years |
| Cemetery: |
Yeoval General Cemetery Memorial plaque for John and Ruth Leslie and baby daughter. |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 14 Apr 1944: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 162888, RAAF Eastern Area Headquarters (Sydney) | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jan 1948: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 162888, RAAF Eastern Area Headquarters (Sydney) |
Memoirs for John Arthur Leslie
On reaching age 17, John applied to join the Navy, but was rejected when found he was colour blind, it being wartime, his work being an essential undertaking it was impossible to enlist, but he managed to have his apprenticeship (boilermaker) cancelled and joined the RAAF in 1944, aged 18, in ground staff. John was stationed at Cootamundra, Melbourne, Wagga, Charters Towers, Cape York and Townsville.
The War finished in 1945 and then you were discharged according to age and length of service. The older you were and with long service were the first to be discharged.
As it would be some time before his discharge time, John joined the "Interim Air Force" in January 1946 for a further 2 years, and was discharged in 1948.
The above information was taken from his Memoirs he wrote for his four daughters.
Submitted 25 April 2024 by Sue Candy
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