Peace medalet 1919 : L P L Don

Circular medalet with a plain edge and integral suspension loop. The obverse features a symbolic female figure of Peace, holding a sword and standing on a plinth marked 'PEACE 1919'. Behind her flies a dove, and at her left and right feet are two figures freed from their shackles. Beneath the figures is a small inlaid panel with 'AUSTRALIA' cast in raised detail. The maker's name 'AMOR LTD' is cast in raised detail beneath the feet of the right hand figure. The reverse features a central panel surrounded by laurel leaves, surmounted by the King's Crown with the word 'VICTORY' over the rays of the rising sun. A sailor and soldier stand at ease on either side of the panel on which is cast 'THE / TRIUMPH / OF / LIBERTY / AND / JUSTICE'. Below the leaves is a very small panel with the words 'THE PEACE OF 1919'.

Leonard Percival Lloyd Don was born on 11 April 1915, the son of Leonard St Clair Don and Irene Ellice Don (nee Frazier). His father enlisted in the AIF the following year and served on the Western Front where he was badly wounded in March 1918, during the German spring offensive. His father recovered and returned to Australia in 1919.

Don started preparatory school in 1919. He received this medalet that year. Designed by C Douglas Richardson, 'The Peace of 1919' medalet was issued by the Defence Department to school children throughout Australia to commemorate the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty in 1919.

After the family moved to Queensland, Don joined the Citizen Military Force (CMF) on 12 February 1935 and was posted to the Australian Corps of Signals. He was discharged on 11 March 1938 but re-enlisted on 8 November and served until he again discharged on 7 February 1939.

Don enlisted with the Second AIF in Brisbane on 12 August 1941 and was allocated the service number QX22759. After completing his initial training, he was promoted to acting bombardier on 4 November. He was posted to Northern Command Training School, Enoggera in early January 1942 and was promoted acting sergeant on 24 January. At the end of March, Don was posted to 117 Field Regiment. He remained in this unit until July when he was posted to 113 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment.

Don's promotion to sergeant was confirmed on 15 October and he embarked with his unit from Brisbane on 29 October for service in New Guinea. He was sent to hospital suffering from malaria on 20 March 1943, but returned to his unit on 1 April. He was promoted acting warrant officer class 2 on 11 October. Don returned to Australia by air from Port Moresby on 31 December, landing in Townsville.

His next posting was to the Fire Control School at Randwick where he arrived on 14 February 1944. His malaria returned during the course and he was sent to 112 Australian General Hospital on 9 March. He returned to the course two weeks later. After completing his course, Don was posted to 114 Light Antiaircraft Regiment. His rank of warrant officer class 2 was confirmed on 26 August.

In January 1945, Don was briefly posted as an instructor to 2 Australian Army Junior Leaders school, before being posted to 2 Recruit Training Battalion as an instructor in February . He remained in this role until the end of the war and was discharged on 24 October 1945.