STOTT, Leslie Ross
| Service Number: | SX8720 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 July 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Tungkillo, South Australia, 9 February 1920 |
| Home Town: | Birdwood (formerly Blumberg), Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mason’s labourer. |
| Died: | 30 April 1987, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia Eastern Niche Wall No 2, Sub Section RSL, Wall & Row AK, Site Number 12 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 12 Jul 1940: | Involvement Private, SX8720 | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 12 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX8720, 2nd/43rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Jun 1943: | Discharged | |
| 29 Jun 1943: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX8720, 2nd/43rd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Trevor Pyatt
Leslie Ross Stott
(9 February 1920 – 30 April 1987)
Leslie Ross Stott was born on 9 February 1920 at Tungkillo, South Australia, the son of Albert Ernest Stott and Olive Jane Millicent Stott (née Rich). He was raised in the Adelaide Hills district, where his family lived in the communities of Tungkillo and Birdwood.
Before enlisting for military service, Leslie worked as a mason's labourer.
Military Service
During the Second World War, Leslie enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 12 July 1940 at Adelaide, receiving the service number SX8720. At the time of enlistment he was 20 years old and single, and he named his father, Albert Ernest Stott of Birdwood, as his next of kin.
He served with the 2/43rd Battalion, undertaking training in Australia before being posted overseas to the Middle East. During his service he also completed a School of Hygiene course ("A" Series) and was briefly promoted to Acting Corporal while on transport duty.
While on active service, Leslie became seriously ill. He was hospitalised with haematemesis (internal bleeding) and later diagnosed with bilateral bronchiectasis, a chronic lung condition. As a result, he was evacuated back to Australia.
Leslie was formally discharged on 29 June 1943 at Wayville, South Australia, having been declared:
"Medically unfit for service not occasioned by his own default."
His total service amounted to approximately 1,351 days. Following his discharge, he returned to live in Birdwood.
Marriage and Later Life
Leslie became engaged to Joy Neva Fuller in 1941, and the couple married in 1944 after his return from military service.
He spent his later years in South Australia, living a quiet civilian life following the lasting effects of his wartime illness.
Death
Leslie Ross Stott died on 30 April 1987, aged 67 years.
Family
Father: Albert Ernest Stott (1881–1960)
Mother: Olive Jane Millicent Stott (1891–1978)
Spouse: Joy Neva Stott (1924–2011)
Sources
National Archives of Australia: Service Record SX8720
Australian Army Attestation Papers (1940)
Service and Casualty Forms (B103)
Discharge Proceedings (29 June 1943)
South Australian Birth Registry
The Advertiser (engagement and marriage notices)
Notes
Leslie's service reflects the experience of many Australian soldiers whose wartime contribution was cut short by serious illness rather than combat wounds. His discharge records confirm that his condition was not due to any fault of his own.
Biography by Trevor Pyatt 4/04/2026
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