Leonard Haig PORRITT

Leonard Haig PORRITT Update Details

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PORRITT, Leonard Haig

Service Numbers:	V23170, 419481
Enlisted:	19 June 1941
Last Rank:	Flight Sergeant
Last Unit:	No. 467 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, 30 November 1920
Home Town:	Beechworth, Indigo, Victoria
Schooling:	Beechworth Higher Elementary School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Bank Clerk
Died:	Flying Battle, North West Europe, 8 July 1944, aged 23 years
Cemetery:	Courgent Communal Cemetery, France Grave 7,
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Beechworth Presbyterian Church WW2 Roll of Honour, Beechworth Shire WW1 Honour Roll, Beechworth War Memorial, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, United Shire of Beechworth Roll of Honour WW2

19 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V23170, 8th Light Horse Regiment
19 Jun 1941:	Enlisted Trooper, V23170, 8th Light Horse Regiment
14 Aug 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 419481, Aircrew Training Units, Melbourne
14 Aug 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 419481
25 May 1943:	Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 419481
29 Oct 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant
8 Jul 1944:	Involvement Flight Sergeant, 419481, No. 467 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45

Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Leonard Haig PORRITT was born on 30th November, 1920 in Beechworth, Victoria

His parents were Thomas Frederick Rowden PORRITT and Maud Isabel DOWLING who married in Beechworth in 1912

Leonard married Mavis Evon KEOGH in 1943 in Victoria

He had served for 4 months previously with the 8th Light Horse Regiment before he enlisted as Air Crew V with the Royal Australian Air Force - he embarked from Sydney on 25th May, 1943 as a Sergeant

His last unit was 467 Squadron - Flight Sergeant

He was promoted to LAC Aircrew II on 30th March, 1943 and became a Wireless Operator on 11th March, 1944

Leonard died on 8th July, 1944 at Courgent in France in a Lancaster bomber LM338 as the Wireless Operator after being shot down during an air operation - he is buried in Courgent Communal Cemetery in France

Inscription on his headstone reads:

'LOVED AND REMEMBERED, LONGED FOR ALWAYS"

His name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial & the Roll of Honour in Beechworth - his name is also on a memorial in France honouring all the airmen who died with him (see links for details & photo of the Memorial )

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His brother Thomas Andrew PORRITT also served in WW2 in the Air Force (SN56005) and was discharged in 1946

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia