Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leslie was born in Adelaide on the 17th December, 1909, the youngest son of Police Constable John Feehan and Bridget Mary. For three years John worked in Kapunda where he was an active member of the Catholic Church, especially the choir. He handled a wide variety of cases, with perhaps the most distressing being in May ’13 when a nine-year-old boy playing on the bank slid down into a deep Harris mine shaft. Constable Feehan went down 150 feet on a rope but was unable to reach the child who was later found 200 feet down with extensive broken bones. When news of John’s death, after a short illness was received in August 1918, the Kapunda community commented that ‘he had earned the respect of all the townspeople. As an officer of the police force, he always carried out his duty fearlessly and well.’ At that stage, Les was just eight years old.
Leslie and his siblings lived with their family in Warooka a township near the tip of the Yorke Peninsula. They included John, Reginald Paul and William Anthony, Bridget Mary and Elsie May. There, the family were well regarded and active in the Catholic Church with Les also playing tennis in the Catholic Lawn Tennis Association as well as the Maitland Tennis Tournament of ’34 where he was involved in the Men’s handicap, singles, doubles and mixed competition. In later years he also captained the Warooka Tennis team and was active on the general and selection committees in ’39, actively promoting the concept of joining the Southern Yorke Peninsula Association in the B Grade Competition.
Socially, Les was also a popular guest at community occasions including 21st Birthday parties where he acted as a MC. He also was involved as a partner in the Annual Catholic Debutant Ball in ’32. Unfortunately these skills did not always translate to animals as in May ’38 Les had an unfortunate altercation with a stray horse that also made the Pioneer newspaper. ‘While motor cycling; home along the Brentwood-Warooka Road recently, Leslie Feehan, of Warooka, struck a straying horse on the road. Mr. Feehan escaped with severe bruising and abrasions. The motor cycle was damaged.’ Apart from his pride, it appears Les did no lasting damage to himself.
His mother, Bridget, who had been a widow for almost 20 years died in March ’38. She was interred with her husband John in the West Terrace Cemetery. In future years, two of their sons, Reginald and William, were also buried with them.
Les worked as a mechanic and motor driver at the salt works of Warooka but with the outbreak of WWII, as a 33-year-old, he enlisted on the 28th January, 41. He had initially been serving with the Militia in the 10th battalion but was then given the number SX1118 and allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. He nominated his older married sister, Lena Mary Melville who was still living in Warooka, as his next of kin.
Initially Les enjoyed a brief period of pre-embarkation leave, returning to Warooka where the community organised a farewell social for him, Keith Player SX8904 and Dean Liddicoat SX8516 all from the 2/48th Battalion, and Len Barrett SX17200 2/9th Battalion. The Pioneer reported that ‘Eulogistic remarks were made by the Chairman of the District Council (Mr. T. A. Murdock) on behalf of the district, and he also made the usual presentation of a purse containing money to each soldier.’ With Les, Keith and Len all being members of the Tennis Club, a special presentation was made to them followed by the Orrie Cowie Cricket Club also making a special presentation to Les. A recitation and dancing was then enjoyed by all present.
Soon after, Leslie boarded the Ile de France in April ‘41 bound for the Middle East where he arrived in August. The following day he earned his first docking of pay, probably for going sight-seeing, but it was a costly parade for him to miss. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Les served in the Middle East from April ’41 until February ’43. A few more reports of being ‘absent without leave’ eventuated with Les was fined for each of these discretions. His map making skills, however, were exceptional. Lieut-Colonel Windeyer had a 10-day tour of Syria to lecture on Tobruk to officers and NCOs of the 16th Brigade in November ’41. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan recorded that ‘Mid November all troops were now coming to realise how much the success of Tobruk had been a result of General Morehead’s hardness and determination. The 9th Australian division was fast gaining that pride in itself for which it was to become known, a pride engendered by the knowledge that its commander was a very great soldier. Privates Les Feehan, Ted Wreford, Jack Abbott and Bert Johnstone worked untiringly for days in preparing some very fine maps in readiness for this lecture tour.’
At the start of November ’42 Les’ sister, Lena Mary Melville received news that ‘Norwood Man Wounded. Mrs. Frank Melville, of Norwood, has been informed that her brother, Pte. Leslie A. Feehan, A.I.F., has been wounded in action in Egypt. He enlisted in January 1941, and left for overseas the following April. Before enlisting, he was employed in the salt industry at Warooka. He is the youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Feehan of Norwood.’ The Chronicle also updated the list of those injured with Les. This probably coincided with the fierce fighting for Trig 29. At that time, the 9th Battalion was ordered to attack northward in what was to be relentless fighting in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29.
In his book ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ John Glenn describes that time “which was to be the most bitter and bloody fighting of the war. When next the sun drove away those shadows from the desert, death would have reaped a rich harvest of gallant men. And of the 2/48th Battalion only forty-one weary troops would remain in the field.” Les was initially evacuated to hospital before being transported to staging camp So many of Les’ fellow 2/48th Battalion were also wounded and many more killed in action. Those wounded with Les included SX10306 Cpt. Robert S. Shillaker, 2/48th Hackney; SX10329 Cpt. Don Bryant, 2/48th Seacliff; SX10333 Lt. Robert E. Alexander, 2/48th ., Norwood; SX12498 Lt. Kenneth F. Allen. 2/48th Hayhurst; SX5533 Pte. Hilary M. Lamont. 2/48th Parkside; SX7108 Pte. Clarence W. Baldwin, 2/48th Pinnaroo; SX7289 Pte. Ernest H. Chapman, 2/48th Koongawa; SX7497 L-Cpl. Ron Chinner, 2/48th Angaston; SX11118 Pte. L. A. Feehan 2/48th Warooka; SX6900 Pte. John E. Huxtable. 2/48th Broken Hill; SX3871 Pte. Harold. E. Luscombe, 2/48th Port Pirie: SX8238 Pte. John C. C. Marshall, 2/48th Wunkar; SX8446 Pte. Ronald R. Matthews,2/48th., Broken Hill; SX11122 Pte. Laurence McEvoy, 2/48th Broken Hill; SX12980 Pte. Edward H. Merritt. 2/48th Adelaide; SX14337 Pte. Colin W. Morgan, 2/48th ., Broken Hill; SX9283 Pte. Peter. s. D. Robertson. 2/48th Karoonda and SX10510 Pte. Leonard B. Spicer. 2/48th Lameroo.
Having survived his injuries and with the fighting in the Middle East behind them, Les, Keith Player Len Barrett, Ken Cooper and Ross Penliale, all of whom had been fighting in the Middle East, returned home for a brief period of leave in March of ’43. It was a welcome respite. Training in Queensland followed, initially with the 2/3rd before Les returned to his 2/48th Battalion. His army record indicates that Les was already being affected by stress with digestive problems – signs that are evident today but which were probably overlooked previously. He was then deployed to New Guinea on August ’43 via Milne Bay where he undertook Intelligence Duties and was promoted to Corporal. However by January ’44 he had contracted Malaria causing him to be hospitalised for a fortnight and consequently relinquishing his intelligence role. He then returned to Townsville in June ’44 but continued to be treated on an ongoing basis for malaria.
Leslie survived the war and returned to Australia where he was diagnosed with a ‘Mild anxiety state’ which we now appreciate as a Traumatic Stress as a result of his service on the front line and a gunshot wound to his thigh as well as ongoing issues with malaria. He was finally discharged on the 13th March ’45 as a result of being medically unfit.
Post war, Les lived in Norwood where his relationship with Patricia Sherman serving in the AWAS (Australian Women’s Army Service). Patricia was one of seven children, with three sisters Jean, Margaret and Alison and three brothers, Richard, William and Robert. Sadly their mother Helen Gertrude died in March ’42 and two years later their father Albert Edward also died in May ’44.
Patricia and Les announced their engagement in July ’45 just after his discharge, and married on the 1st September at Our Lady of Victories Church, Henley Beach, at 10 am Saturday. They welcomed their son, Michael Andrew in February ’47 and their second son on December 16th ’48.
Almost a decade later, Les’ medals were sent to him in ’58. They included the 1939’45 Star, African Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal.
Les lived to be 69, and died on the 26th January 1979. He is buried at Centennial Park where his son, Michael Andrew, who died aged 55 on 22 Feb 2003 is also buried with him. Patricia lived to be 90, outliving her son and died on the 17th February 2012. Now all three rest together.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.