The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Lee
- First Name:
- Leslie Herbert
- Nick Name:
- Les
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7230
- Company:
- 'B' Company
- Enlisted:
- 1.08.1940
- Discharged:
- 8.10.1946
- DOB:
- 23.06.1914
- Place of Birth:
- Northam, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- George William Lee
- Mothers's Name:
- Not Known
- Religion:
- Presbyterian
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Labourer
- Java:
- 'Blackforce'
- Force:
- 'A' Force Burma, Java Party No. 4 to Singapore & joined Java Party 5a, Robertson Force
- Camps Thailand:
- Nacompaton
- Camps Burma:
- Alepauk, Lawa, Apalaine, Anganan 100km, Aungganaung
- Camps Japan:
- Bicycle Camp Java
- Return Details 1945:
- Thailand-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Sydney-Melbourne-Perth. No further details are known.
General Description
Jack Taylor and Les were the only one to return home to Australia.
Lee enlisted AIF 1 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘B’ Company 8 Platoon under the command of Lt MacKinnon.
At Gage Roads, Fremantle Les Lee was one of 100s of 2/4th men who jumped their ship ‘Aquitania’ on 15 Feb 1942 in the hope of seeing their families before sailing for overseas. Les was one of 88 men who missed reboarding ‘Aquitania’ for whatever reason. The 88 men sailed a few weeks later intending to join 2/4th at Singapore, however by the time they neared Singapore it was realised the island was about to Fall to Japan. The men were taken to Java where they joined Australians and Dutch East Indies troops. He fought with ‘Blackforce’ They were captured 8 March 1942. Lee was probably placed at Bicycle Camp.
Please read about those AWOL at Fremantle.
Les Lee was selected at Java with ‘A’ Force Burma Java Party No. 4 to work on the Burma-Thai Railway. Les became sick on the journey from Java to Singapore. He was obviously very ill and remained behind when Party No. 4 left for Burma. When Java Party No. 5A Robertson Force arrived in Singapore 16 October 1942 from Java, they remained for 2.5 months before departing Singapore on 7 January 1943 by train for Prai, Malay Peninsula. Les Lee joined Java Party No. 5A. Other 2/4th men in this party included Ted Cosson, Merve Wilkinson and Cyril Vidler.
Read about Robertson Force Java Party No. 5A
Les was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.
He died 4 Nov 1983.
Camp Locations:
- Nacompaton, Nakom Pathom Hospital - Thailand
- Alepauk, Rabao, 18 Kilo - Burma
- Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
- Apalon, Apalaine, 80 Kilo, 337k - Burma
- Bicycle Camp, Batavia, Jakarta - Java ***
