Next of Kin plaque: Second Lieutenant Norman Leslie Steele, 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'NORMAN LESLIE STEELE'. A checker's number, '78', is impressed between the lion's left back leg and tail. The mark of the Woolwich arsenal, 'W' within a circle, is stamped into the reverse of the plaque.

Born in Melbourne, 21 year old Norman Leslie Steele had served in the Citizen Forces with the 49th (Prahran) Regiment, the Melbourne University Regiment and the Field Artillery, when he enlisted in the AIF on 10 February 1916, for service in the First World War. He was posted a private (air mechanic) in No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC). Steele left for Egypt aboard HMAT Orsova on 16 March.

In Egypt Steele trained as a pilot, and undertook officer training with No 68 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC). He was commissioned a second lieutenant on 24 November, and received his pilot's 'wings' at the end of the month when he was posted to 5th Wing, No 67 (Australian) Squadron, RFC, based at Rafa in Palestine. This was the name originally given to what was No 1 Squadron AFC.

On 20 April 1917 Steele took off for a bombing raid on Tel-el-Sheria, flying a Martinsyde Scout. His aircraft was shot down by the enemy, and according to information later received from them, he died soon afterwards and was buried nearby. Although a map reference was provided, Steele's body could not be located after the war for formal burial. He is commemorated in the Jerusalem War Memorial Cemetery.

Three of Steele's brothers served during the war. His eldest brother, Captain Frederick Steele, was killed between 25 and 27 October 1914 while serving with the Royal Fusiliers. Lieutenant Phillip John Rupert Steele died of wounds on 8 January 1917, while serving with 10th Battery, 4th Field Artillery Brigade. Corporal Henry Cyril Augustus Steel also served with 4th Field Artillery Brigade but was returned to Australia on compassionate grounds shortly before Norman's death, and survived the war.