Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Les Curyer’s father, David (1868-1937) was born in Mintaro and his mother Rose, née Hobbs, (1878-1968) was from Gladstone. Les was born in Jamestown in December 1916, the youngest of their 7 children:

* David Thomas (1898-1950) - Service no. 1852, S546
* Evelyn Amelia “Evie” (1901-1989)
* Albert Frederick (1904-1971)
* Lilian May “Lilly” (1906-1990)
* Alfred James “Jim” (1911-1997)
* Harold Mervyn “Lloyd” (1914-1993)  - Service no. SX31414, S20966
* Leslie Francis “Les” (1916-1993) - Service no. SX11906

Little is known of Les’s life before WW2, but his enlistment papers mark his profession as gardener and baker. At that time, he was single and living with his oldest sister and her husband (Joseph H. Dickson) and their 2 daughters in William Street, Norwood, Adelaide. Les never married, but at the time of his initial deployment in 1941 he did have a sweetheart (but that relationship did not survive his absence overseas).

He was sent to the Middle East (where his bravery rescuing the wounded was spoken of by family members) and returned on the Queen Mary to Sydney in early 1943. He was later stationed in New Guinea, Moratai, and British North Borneo (and briefly served as a batman as well) before discharge in early 1946. After the war, Les never applied for his service medals (but they were requested by his next of kin, his grandniece, in 1998). At that time, he was found to be eligible for:

* 1939/45 Star
* Africa Star (with 8th Army Clasp)
* Pacific Star
* Defence Medal
* War Medal (1939/45)
* Australia Service Medal 1939/45
* Australia Service Medal 1945-1975 (with Clasp SW Pacific)

His life after the war is unclear, but he continued to live with his oldest sister and brother-in-law even after he purchased a house in Botanic Street, Hackney, where they all lived until their deaths. He shared their interest in horseracing and would go to the racetrack in his free time. At a time of abundant tram lines, he never owned a car and didn’t ride a bicycle as an adult, preferring to walk. Prior to his retirement, he had been working as a barman in Rundle Street, Kent Town for many years.

In his final years, he retained his pragmatic ‘rural character’ and independence but suffered from skin cancers (probably received while serving), which greatly affected his neck, left shoulder, and ultimately his will to live. While living alone, he was supported by another of his grandnieces who had promised her dying grandmother to continue caring for him.