Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Les Bale (Bluey) was born at Moonbah near Jindabyne in October 1918. His father Joe was an AIF veteran of the First World War. He had been repatriated to Australia in 1917 from France after suffering extensive wounds. Joe Bale needed to be nearer ongoing medical treatment so the family eventually moved to Sydney. Les was a keen sportsman playing cricket, rugby and baseball as a boy and youth. He enlisted as an AC1 in the RAAF on 13 May 1940. After basic training, he was sent to the RAAF Engineering School at Ascot Vale in Victoria 8 October 1940, returning to 6 Squadron at RAAF Richmond on 18 February 1941. He embarked for overseas service on 13 June 1941, travelling via Canada to the United Kingdom. After serving on a couple of RAF stations, he eventually joined the Australian 464 Squadron which was part of Bomber Command. 464 Squadron was formed on 1 September 1942 at RAF Feltwell and initially flew Venturas. It was at Feltwell Les met ACW Irene Wells who he was to later marry. At the beginning of 1943 Les was promoted to Corporal. On 1 June 1943 the squadron was transferred to the 2nd Tactical Airforce and the Venturas were replaced by Mosquito fighter-bombers. The squadron was involved supporting the D-Day landings by attacking German transport infrastructure. Les married Irene on 10 June 1944 but was quickly returned to duty because of the operational needs of the squadron. At the beginning of October Les was promoted to Sergeant. At the end of December 464 Squadron was moved to Rosières-en-Santerre in France and later to Melsbroek in Belgium, which was where the squadron ceased operational duties at war's end. It was during this period that Les was Mentioned-in-Despatches (London 1/46) for his action in jumping onto a Mosquito aircraft that had crashed and was burning. He dragged the crew to safety, suffering burns to his feet and legs, made worse by his rubber boots issued to ground crew melting because of the heat. Les was also selected to play for the RAAF Rugby team during his time with 464 Squadron. He played numerous games as either a break-away(flanker) or winger against Combined RAF teams, South African teams, New Zealand teams at places like Cardiff Arms Park and Murrayfield. Photos of him in some of these games can be viewed on the Australian War Memorial website. In October 1945 he was repatriated to Australia and was demobilized on 31 January 1946. In all he was away from Australia almost four and a half years. His war bride wife joined him in Australia with their son Dennis later in 1946.