Mountainous jungle area where Les fought, near Fortification Point, New Guinea, 1944.
From Les Findlay's War record, National Archives of Australia
LESLIE WILLIAM FINDLAY VX34186
2 nd AIF, 8 th/5th/11th Australian Infantry Divisions, artillery unit 2/14 Field Regiment – 2/38 Light Aid Detachment
DARWIN, NEW GUINEA, NEW BRITAIN
1.7.1940 enlisted at Royal Park, Melbourne. Les was a Phillip Island farmer at the time Trained Colac and Puckapunyal, posted to 2/14th Field Regiment
DARWIN July 1941 arrived Darwin for tactical training, calibration shoots, and regimental shoots. (Total 18 months)
21.7.41 Appointed Group 3 Gunlayer 21.7.41 – 25.1.43 Measles, dengue fever, sick one month total
19.2.42: Japanese bombing of Darwin. Darwin bombed total 64 times until November 1943)
Japanese bombing of Darwin, 19.2.1942, Library and Archives, Northern Territory 1_NTL-PH0238-0885.jpg
25.1.43 – 10.2.43 in transit to NSW
NSW 10.2.43 – 14.10.43
22.7.43 Transferred to AEME: Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
1.6.43 Promoted to A/BDR
30.8.43 Promoted to Corporal
QLD 14.10.43 – 2.1.44 2/14 30.10.43, transferred to 2/83 L A D
NEW GUINEA 15.1.44 – 16.1.45
Gunner with the 2/14 Field Regiment (regiment Les was in) setting up for practice, New Guinea
Finschaven, Fortification Point, South Alexishafen, Madang - Huon Peninsula - 2/83 LAD, attached to 2/14 field regiment.
8.3.44 Appointed to Armourer Group 1 (NFO)
23.11.44 102 Brigade Workshops
16.1.45 embarked Madang
Madang Harbour, New Guinea, 1945
NEW BRITAIN 18.1.45
disembarked Jacquino Bay. Working in area between Open and Wide Bays supporting patrols.
September 45 – formed part of Garrison force following surrender of Japanese 5.12.45 Embarked Rabaul
The gateway to Government House in Rabaul, 14.9.45, with Japanese staff car parked in driveway. This area became the headquarters for the 11th Division Garrison force, including Les until the end of 1945
MELBOURNE Discharged 8.2.1946
A brief video interview with Les Findlay (done in 1995 by the society with an Australian Government "Australia Remembers" grant), is included in a forthcoming documentary being developed by the society with a grant from the Victorian Government to commemorate the end of WW2 and the contribution of Phillip Islanders. We wish to thank the Australian War Memorial and National Archives of Australia for their information and images for this record and the information and images for the documentary..