Fell, Leonard Armstrong (Major, b.1899 - d.1989)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX47818 Major Leonard Armstrong Fell, 2/24 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Egypt, c. 1940.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one letter written by Major Leonard Armstrong Fell, written in c. December 1940. In his letter, possibly written to his wife, Mrs Valerie Marie Fell, Major Fell describes his experiences of having leave in the area of Cairo, Egypt. He writes about hearing of the first British advance in the Western Desert, staying on a house-boat on the Nile River, visiting friends, taking a taxi in crowded streets, eating at western-style restaurants, sightseeing at ancient monuments, seeing films at the cinema, shopping, going to a dance, visiting a perfume bazaar, and his impressions of Egyptian irrigation methods.

Major Leonard Armstrong Fell enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 22 July 1940. He served with 2/24 Australian Infantry Battalion in Egypt and Libya. In May 1941, Major Fell was captured as a prisoner of war at Tobruk, Libya. He was interned at various camps in Italy and Germany, and was liberated in early-mid 1945. After his return to Australia, Mayor Fell was discharged on 18 September 1945.