Leo J (Tiger) PAYNE MID

PAYNE, Leo J

Service Number: WX2073
Enlisted: 24 April 1940, Northam, Western Australia
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 2nd/32nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Mingenew, Western Australia, 1 June 1911
Home Town: Mingenew, Mingenew, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Miner
Died: Killed in Action, Libya, 4 August 1941, aged 30 years
Cemetery: Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya
Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Darnah province, Libya
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

24 Apr 1940: Enlisted Private, WX2073, Northam, Western Australia
24 Apr 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, WX2073, 2nd/32nd Infantry Battalion
20 Jun 1941: Promoted Lieutenant, 2nd/32nd Infantry Battalion
4 Aug 1941: Involvement Lieutenant, WX2073, 2nd/32nd Infantry Battalion, Libya/North Africa

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Biography contributed by John Edwards

"Killed 6 Weeks After Promotion 

Twenty-nine-year-old Lieutenant Leo J. Payne, who went away with the A.I.F. as a private, was killed in action in Syria only six weeks after he received his commission. He was killed on August 4, 15 months after leaving Australia. First man to enlist in Mingenew, he left Australia early in 1940 and went to England, where he was made a non-commissioned officer. He was a sergeant when transferred to the Middle East. Lieut. Payne was the sixth son of the late Mr. T. Payne and Mrs. Payne of Mingenew. Four of his brothers are serving overseas in the A.I.F. He was a miner at Big Bell and was well-known in that district under the nickname "Tiger". He played a lot of football with country teams." - from the Perth Daily News 05 Jan 1942 (nla.gov.au)

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