Chitty, Leslie Allan (Corporal, b.1912 - d.1996)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX48347 Corporal Leslie Allan ‘Peter’ Chitty, 2/2 Motor Ambulance Convoy, Second Australian Imperial Force, Malaya and Australia, 1942-1945.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains two folders of material relating to Corporal Leslie Allan ‘Peter’ Chitty, his service with 2/2 Motor Ambulance Convoy in Malaya, and his time as a prisoner of war of the Japanese.

Folder 1 of 2 consists of personal correspondence from Corporal Chitty to his wife, Mrs Lilian May Chitty (née Prowse). It also includes letters from friends and family to Mrs Chitty relating to Corporal Chitty. This folder contains:
3x Prisoner of war postcards from Corporal Chitty to Mrs Chitty, Malaya, 20 June 1942 - [dates unknown]. In these postcards, Corporal Chitty assures Mrs Chitty of the good health of himself and his friends, and sends his love.
1x Airgraph letter from Corporal Chitty’s brother, VX9846 Private Phillip Francis Chitty, to Mrs Chitty, Middle East, 1 December 1943. In this letter, Private Chitty enquires about Corporal Chitty, and writes about his hope to be back in Australia soon.
1x Letter from VX48162 Chaplain Frederick Porter to Corporal Chitty’s father, Mr Allan Peter Chitty, Middle East, 9 December 1943. This letter relates to the death of Corporal Chitty’s brother, VX46368 Private Arthur Wilson Chitty, who was killed in action at El Alamein, Egypt, in 1942.
4x Letters from Corporal Chitty to Mrs Chitty, Singapore and at sea, 6-28 September 1945. In these letters, written after his liberation, Corporal Chitty assures his wife of his good health, says how much he is looking forward to seeing his family, and writes about receiving letters and photographs from home, his experiences as a prisoner, news about mutual acquaintances, and his journey home.
2x Telegrams from Corporal Chitty to Mrs Chitty, Australia, 17-30 September 1945.
1x Telegram from 'Nell' [identity unknown] to Mrs Chitty, Tocumwal, New South Wales, 19 September 1945.
1x Letter from Mrs Elyse Mitchell to Mrs Chitty, Corryong, Victoria, 22 October 1945. In this letter, Mrs Mitchell writes about her husband’s arrival home after being a prisoner of war, and the praise he had for Corporal Chitty’s attitude during captivity.
1x Invitation from the Cudgewa Farewell and Welcome Home Committee to Corporal Chitty for a Welcome Home event, Cudgewa, 24 October 1945.

Folder 2 of 2 consists of official correspondence relating to Corporal Chitty’s captivity as a prisoner of war of the Japanese. This folder contains:
2x Letters from the Australian Military Forces to Mrs Chitty, Victoria, 14 April – 2 July 1942. These letters inform Mrs Chitty that Corporal Chitty was missing in action.
2x Letters from the Records Office to Mrs Chitty [including transcript of radio message], Melbourne, Victoria, March 1943. These letters inform Mrs Chitty that Corporal Chitty was a prisoner of war, and that he had sent a message to her over the radio.
1x Telegram from the Minister for the Army to Mrs Chitty, Melbourne, Victoria, 19 May 1943. This telegram confirms that Corporal Chitty was a prisoner of war of the Japanese, interned in Malaya.
1x Letter from the Australian Military Forces to Mrs Chitty [includes directions for sending letters to prisoners of war], Melbourne, Victoria, 20 May 1943.
1x Telegram from the Minister for the Army to Mrs Chitty, Melbourne, Victoria, 14 September 1945. This telegram informs Mrs Chitty of Corporal Chitty’s liberation.
1x Certificate of Discharge of Corporal Chitty, issued 5 December 1945.

Corporal Leslie Allan Chitty, known as ‘Peter’, enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 25 July 1940, after previously serving in the militia. He served with 2/2 Motor Ambulance Convoy in Malaya, but was captured as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in February 1942. Corporal Chitty was interned at Changi Prisoner of War Camp in Singapore. During his time as a prisoner, he played Australian Rules Football. After the war, Corporal Chitty returned to Australia and was discharged on 5 December 1945.