Les
was born in Leeds, Yorkshire on 12th August 1923.
He enlisted in
September 1939 in 2/5 West Yorks, a Territorial Army Battalion, having added
two years to his real age of sixteen. He was subsequently transferred to the
70th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, a Young Soldier's Battalion,
where he served until 1942 until he volunteered to become Airborne.
After
parachute training he was posted to the 6th (Royal Welsh) Battalion, part of
1st Airborne Division. With them he saw service in Tunisia, Sicily and
Italy.
When 1st Airborne
Division moved to Italy by sea in September 1943, Les was one of those
aboard the minesweeper 'Abdiel', which struck a mine in Taranto harbour and
was lost with very heavy casualties to the parachutist passengers. Les
survived after being rescued by a Royal Navy launch.
He was captured in Italy at the end of December 1943 and remained a
POW until his release in August 1946.
