Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leonard (Len) was the third son and fourth child of Francis Joseph and Ella Ditty. He was born in the Victorian town of Camperdown on the 24th June 1912. His siblings included John Graeme Steele(Jack), Gladys, Noel Francis, Dorothy Beryl and Nola.
Initially Len’s father, Francis, worked for the Bank of Victoria, transferring to the Bank of Australasia in 1899. He was actively involved in the local community for over fifteen years, including being the honorary secretary of the Camperdown Swine Fever Association when the town was declared as ‘clean’ at the end of 1903, the first in the shire to receive this news. He had also joined the staff of Thornton, Palmer and Co. in 1900, managing that until 1916 when he moved to Albury as chief accountant, then Manager for Dalgety and Company. With WWI declared, he and a fellow Dalgetty man, McKenzie made a visit to Lismore, acquiring twenty horses, eleven purchased and nine donated, for the Army’s use. By February ’15 his focus turned to the feasibility of constructing a rail line from Colac to Port Campbell, thus assisting various industries and especially pig breeders.
By 1916, Francis was transferred to Albury. Following a promotion to sub-branch manager in Adelaide, Francis and the family moved to live in Fullarton, S.A. Len attended St Peter’s College and after graduating, worked as an insurance clerk.
In March ’36, he was fortunate to escape relatively unscathed from a vehicle accident, which could have been more catastrophic than what eventuated. Len was driving a car, lent by a female friend, when he swerved to avoid another on Fullarton Road. In doing so, he clipped the car in front of him, which then crashed into a post. In all there were twelve young people injured. 26-year-old Len sustained cuts to his forehead and his 30-year-old brother, Jack had abrasions and a cut to his finger. The incident went to court with Leonard charged with excessive speed, but fortunately the charge was dismissed.
He was less fortunate nine months later when charged with a breach of a city by-law in Exchange Place. Added to the charge of 10/. with 10/ costs was a further fine for his impetuous decision to give a false name and address, earning a further fine of 15/, with 10/ costs. Ironically, this impetuosity probably later helped him during his war years.
28-year-old Len and his older brother, 30-year-old Noel enlisted together on the 2nd July ‘40. They were allocated successive number, Noel SX7455 and Leonard SX7456 with both being placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. By October, Len was promoted to the role of Acting Corporal. Two years later, their 27-year-old sister, Dorothy Beryl who had previously worked for Dalgety & Co in Currie Street, also enlisted, serving as an Office Orderly and then a Recorder.
Prior to embarking Len enjoyed brief leave before he and Noel were heading to the Middle East on the 7th November on the Stratheden. Arriving on the 17th December, Len faced rapid promotion in the following months, being Corporal in January and Sergeant by July. He attended a Junior Leaders Course in ’42 and apart from a foot ulcer, escaped serious injury whilst in the Middle East, unlike Noel.
Both returned to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43 for well-deserved leave. Training in Queensland followed to prepare their battalion for the tropical condition they would face in New Guinea against a very different enemy. During that time in the Atherton Tablelands, in March ’45 two photos which included Len were taken. The first was of the 2/48th Stretcher Bearers, which included Warrant Officer Class 1 Leonard Ditty. The second, also including Leonard, was taken of the 2/48th Battalion Personnel.
By August ’43 Len arrived in Milne Bay but soon contracted a high fever (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) and Dengue Fever several times before returning to Brisbane. He again undertook more study and in June ’44 was promoted to Warrant Officer I. A return to Morotai and thence to Tarakan followed in April ’45 for the final months of the war.
Finally back home, Leonard announced his engagement to Mollie James of Myrtlebank on the 20th August ’48. Five months later, he acted as best man for his oldest brother, John when the latter married Dorothy Guthrie of Gumeracha. The following year, Leonard and Mollie announced their own wedding in the Advertiser on the 18th April ’50. ‘Mollie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick James, of Myrtle Bank, will wed Leonard, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Ditty, of Fullarton, in Hawthorn Presbyterian Church, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.’
The two were members of the Glenelg Golf Club which enjoyed a pre-ball party before their annual ball held in John Martin’s Hall – an event that attracted over 650 guests. In a much less prestigious event the following year, Len gained unwanted notoriety with a report in the July ’52 News. ‘A Glenelg working party on the new fifteenth tee was scattered on Saturday morning by a ball which had travelled 100 yards up the fairway before hitting a pipe and rebounding 120 yards into their midst. The ball was hit by Len Ditty. who after profusely apologising to the working party for the fright he had given them, played two more shots from a sandy lie, and was still behind the tee. Quite an expensive hole!’
At the end of that month, Len’s 74-year-old father who had lived to see both sons safely return from the war, died on the 25th July ’52, six years after retiring. (Ella lived to be 81 and died on the 19th July ’63.)
Aged 69 Leon died on the 21st September 1981. He is remembered at Centennial Park Cemetery in the S.A. Garden of Remembrance. Nearby are his three sisters, Dorothy Beryl, Gladys and Nola and his brother, Noel who died in 1980.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.