John Michael LEONARD

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LEONARD, John Michael

Service Number:	65300
Enlisted:	1 June 1942
Last Rank:	Leading Aircraftman
Last Unit:	Not yet discovered
Born:	Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia, 30 January 1905
Home Town:	Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Motor (Lorry) Driver
Died:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 13 October 1983, aged 78 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

1 Jun 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 65300
21 Aug 1945:	Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 65300

Help us honour John Michael Leonard's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Leading Aircraftman John Michael Leonard (Service No:65300) had served in the Naval Reserve (1919 - 1924) prior to enlisting in the RAAF on 1 June 1942 at No 2 Recruiting Centre Sydney as an Aircraftman I - mustered Driver - Motor Transport (DMT). Promoted to Leading Aircraftman on 1 April 1943, he was posted to RAAF Tocumwal - attached to 1 Mobile Works Squadron and 7 Aircraft Depot. Leading Aircraftman Leonard was at RAAF Tocumwal when he was Discharged (Medically Unfit) on 21 August 1945.

John was born in 1905 in Sydney, New South Wales, eldest of five children (and only son) of John Thomas Leonard (b1882 in Otago, New Zealand) and Mary (Polly) Alice Ware (b1885 in Sydney, New South Wales). John Snr had immigrated in 1885, arriving in Sydney from Dunedin, and was a Labourer in 1904 when he and Polly married in Sydney. John Snr and Polly settled in Sydney, where they raised their family and John Snr was an Engine Driver.

John worked for Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Coy as a Tyre Moulder/Rubber Worker, as a Letter Press Machinist and as a Lifesaver and Swimming Instructor at Sans Souci Swimming Baths. In 1937 John married Phyllis Marian Bennett (nee Smith; b1906 in Sydney, New South Wales), and was a Lorry Driver (Lonsdale & Bartholomew Ltd) in 1942 when he enlisted in the RAAF. John and Phyllis settled in Sydney, where they raised their family and following his Discharge, John worked as a Motor Driver and from 1949 as a Clerk. John died in 1983 and Phyllis in 1990.

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