Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Harold Herbert Le Couteur (1919 – 2000)

Service Number: S39415 | Australian Military Forces (WWII)

Early Life and Family Background

Harold Herbert Le Couteur was born on 4 January 1919 in Brompton Park, South Australia, the eldest child of Frederick Harold Le Couteur (1898–1979) and Gertrude May Williams (1899–1981).

The Le Couteur family descended from Channel Islands settlers who had arrived in South Australia in the mid-1800s, establishing a reputation for integrity and hard work across the Port Adelaide and Brompton districts.

Harold grew up in the close-knit working-class suburbs of Brompton and Flinders Park, attending local schools and joining the workforce during the Great Depression years. Before enlisting, he worked as a packer for Burns Philp & Co Ltd, based in Southwark – a position that reflected the industrious character of the era’s young tradesmen.

World War II Service

Enlistment

On 23 December 1939, less than four months after the outbreak of World War II, Harold voluntarily enlisted at Southwark, South Australia, joining the Australian Military Forces (Citizen Military Forces). He was issued the service number S39415 and posted to the Australian Army Ordnance Corps (A.A.O.C.), the logistical branch responsible for supplying, maintaining, and distributing military equipment.

His initial Mobilisation Enrolment Form lists him as:

Age: 20 years 11 months
Height: 5 ft 9 in
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Fair
Complexion: Fair
Religion: Church of England
Next of Kin: Father – Frederick H. Le Couteur of Flinders Park

Training and Postings

After medical examination and oath of enlistment at Southwark on 23 December 1939, Harold began training at local ordnance and supply depots. His postings took him through camps and stores in Wayville (SA), Northam, and Claremont (WA) between 1940 and 1943.

He was part of the supply and transport network that kept Australia’s home-front forces operational. Records show numerous transfers and hospital admissions through the Service and Casualty Forms, primarily for treatment of painful foot conditions (recorded as corns and bunions), which eventually limited his mobility.

Marriage and Family Life

While on service, Harold married Dorothy May Norman on 17 May 1941 at the Methodist Church, Brompton. Dorothy – affectionately known as “Dossie” – was his lifelong companion and the anchor of his post-war life.

The couple later made their home at 25 Henley Street, Torrensville, where they raised three sons: Wayne, Daryl, and Gary. Their home became a welcoming centre of family gatherings, remembered for Harold’s gentle humour and strong sense of loyalty.

Later War Years and Discharge

By 1943, Harold’s condition had worsened. The medical board at Wayville reclassified him as “Class D – Medically Unfit for Service.”

His Proceedings on Discharge form dated 4 January 1944 – his 25th birthday – records the following:

Rank: Private
Unit: 12 A.A.O.C. Stores Depot
Total Service: 1,751 days
Medical Classification: Class D (Corns and Bunions)
Discharge Reason: Medically Unfit – Not due to war service
Intended Residence: 25 Henley Street, Torrensville

He was issued a civilian suit upon discharge and signed the official Will Receipt Form on the same day, closing his military file.

Although his role was home-based, Harold’s service was vital: as part of the Ordnance Corps, he supported the machinery of war that sustained Australia’s fighting units abroad.

Post-War Years

Returning to civilian life, Harold resumed employment in warehouse and trade work. He and Dossie raised their family through the post-war boom and were active members of their local community in Flinders Park. His quiet dedication, craftsmanship, and enduring work ethic earned him great respect among colleagues and friends.

Passing and Commemoration

Harold Herbert Le Couteur passed away in Adelaide on 6 November 2000, aged 81. He was laid to rest beside his beloved wife Dorothy May Le Couteur (1920 – 2002) at Dudley Park Cemetery, Adelaide.

Their memorial plaque reads:

“Treasured Memories of Harold Herbert Le Couteur – Devoted Husband of Dorothy May ‘Dossie’. Loved Father of Wayne, Daryl & Gary. Dearly Loved Pa & Nana.”

Legacy

Private Harold Herbert Le Couteur’s story reflects a generation of South Australians whose service was steady, unheralded, and essential.

Though not on the front line, his years of ordnance duty kept the Australian Army supplied and operational through crisis. His life exemplified quiet courage, family devotion, and duty to country – a legacy now enshrined in both his service record and the memories of his descendants.

Sources

National Archives of Australia: Series B884, Item S39415 – Le Couteur, Harold Herbert (WWII Service Record)
Australian War Memorial: WWII Nominal Roll (S39415)
South Australian Births, Marriages and Deaths Indexes
The Advertiser (Adelaide) – Death Notices 2000 & 2002
Centennial Park Cemetery Records, Adelaide

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 9/10/2025