SLEE, Barbara Joan
| Service Number: | WR/1506 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1943, Port Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Leading Steward |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Adelaide, 14 April 1923 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Everard Park, South Australia, 9 October 1985, aged 62 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia Second Crescent, Site Number 450 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Jul 1943: | Involvement WR/1506 | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1943: | Enlisted Port Adelaide | |
| 20 Jul 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Leading Steward , WR/1506 | |
| 11 Mar 1946: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Trevor Pyatt
World War II Service Biography – Barbara Joan Slee (later Neale)
Name: Barbara Joan Slee
Service Number: WR/1506
Branch: Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS)
Rank: Leading stewardess
Born: 14 April 1923, Adelaide, South Australia
Parents: Owen Slee & Edith Alice Golding
Enlistment and Training
Barbara enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy on 20 July 1943 at Port Adelaide, joining the WRANS at age 20. She was medically examined the same day and described as 5 ft 2 in tall, light brown hair, blue eyes, fair complexion. Her religion was given as Church of Christ.
She began her service as Stewardess Minor and was initially posted to HMAS Lonsdale (Melbourne) and HMAS Cerberus (Westernport, Victoria).
Postings and Service
Barbara’s wartime duties were shore-based, supporting naval operations by undertaking clerical and domestic responsibilities, helping to release men for sea service. Her postings included:
HMAS Lonsdale – 20 July 1943
HMAS Cerberus – October 1943 onward
HMAS Torrens (Adelaide) – later transfer
Throughout her service, Barbara was consistently assessed as of “Very Good” character and efficiency.
Discharge
She rose to the rank of Leading Seaman and was discharged on 11 March 1946, after nearly three years of service. On discharge she received a War Gratuity in recognition of her service.
Legacy
Barbara belonged to a generation of Australian women who answered the call during the Second World War, becoming part of the WRANS, which had only been established in 1941. Her work freed men for active duty at sea, and her record reflects dedication, reliability, and exemplary conduct.
She later married Arthur Lindsay Neale (1923–1981) and lived in Adelaide until her passing in 1985.
Biography by Trevor Pyatt 26-08-2025