| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR03994 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: .5 cm; Wallet/s: 1 |
| Object type | Letter |
| Maker |
Allen, Leslie Joseph |
| Place made | Australia, Malaya |
| Date made | 1941-1942 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
| Copying Provisions | Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required. |
Allen, Leslie Joseph (Private, b.1918 - d.1942)
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX73003 Private Leslie Joseph Allen, 2/18 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Malaya and Australia, 1941-1961.
Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of correspondence from Private Allen to his brother, Frederick Henry Allen, and letters from the Australian Military Forces to Frederick Henry Allen. In his letters to his brother, dated between 28 October and 12 December 1941, Private Allen writes about his experiences of service in Malaya with 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion and 2/18 Australian Infantry Battalion. Some of these experiences include his embarkation, playing cricket and football, meeting mutual friends, being in hospital with blood poisoning, and hard work being done by his colleagues to defend Singapore against the Japanese. Private Allen also requests news from home. The letters from the Australian Military Forces to Frederick Henry Allen give updates on information regarding Private Allen. This file contains:
1x Letter from Private Allen to his brother, Frederick Henry Allen, Malaya, 28 October 1941.
1x Letter from Private Allen to Frederick Henry Allen, Malaya, 12 December 1941, [includes envelope].
1x Handmade Christmas card from Private Allen to Frederick Henry Allen, Malaya, c. December 1941.
1x Letter from Australian Military Forces to Frederick Henry Allen, Sydney, 30 April 1942.
1x Letter from Australian Military Forces to Frederick Henry Allen, Sydney, 6 July 1942.
1x Letter from Headquarters 17 Gurkha Division to Frederick Henry Allen, Seremban, Malaysia, 7 January 1961.
.
History / Summary
Private Leslie Joseph Allen enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 16 April 1941. He completed his training in Tamworth, New South Wales, and went on to serve with 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion and 2/18 Australian Infantry Battalion in Malaya. In February 1942, Private Allen was declared missing, after Singapore fell to the Japanese. He was later presumed to have died on 15 February 1942. Private Allen is commemorated at Singapore Memorial.