The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX104121) Private Leslie James Hanlon, 2/27th Australian Infantry Battalion, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (NX104121) Private Leslie James Hanlon, 2/27th Australian Infantry Battalion, Second World War.

NX104121 Private Leslie James Hanlon, 2/27th Australian Infantry Battalion
KIA 1 July 1945

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Leslie James Hanlon.

Leslie Hanlon was born on the 8th of September 1920 in Cootamundra, New South Wales, the fourth son of Patrick and Hannah Hanlon.

Known as “Les” he grew up in Muttama, a rural community in the central east part of the Riverina, attended the local primary school, and went on to work as a truck and tractor driver.

Hanlon enlisted in the Militia on 26 January 1942. Given his experience as a driver, he was appointed driver mechanic with the rank of acting corporal. Before he was taken on strength of the 7th Australian Motor Regiment, however, Les Hanlon enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force. As the part-time Militia could not serve outside Australia or its territories unless volunteering to do so, the 21-year-old Les enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force – along with his brother Parker – on 5 August 1942.

The brothers joined the 2/27th Battalion in early July 1943, with Les reverting to the rank of private at his own request.

The 2/27th had been fighting on the Kokoda Trail, severely depleted by heavy casualties and tropical diseases. By mid-January 1943 its fighting strength had fallen to just 70 men.

The Hanlon brothers were amongst a batch of reinforcements taken on strength while the unit was in period of rest and reorganisation.

As part of the battalion's reorganisation, its strength fell to about 800 men. Many of its vehicles and heavy equipment were returned as the army was restructured to focus upon operations in the Pacific.

In August 1943, the 2/27th travelled to New Guinea, where they took part in the Ramu Valley–Finisterre Range campaign. The men saw particularly heavy fighting when they and the other battalions of the 21st Brigade captured the high ground around Shaggy Ridge.

Les Hanlon was evacuated to hospital in mid-September 1943, and then in late November with malaria. While he returned to his unit in mid-December, he would continue to suffer recurrent bouts of malaria.

By early January 1944, the 2/27th was withdrawn from the fighting and in March 1944 it returned to Australia. A period of training and reorganisation followed.

In early August 1944, Hanlon suffered from another bout of malaria. After spending time in a rest camp, he returned to his unit. He and his battalion returned to operations late in the war when they were dispatched to Borneo, for their final action of the war.

As part of the Operation Oboe landings, Hanlon and his comrades took part in an amphibious landing at Balikpapan on 1 July 1945. Coming ashore at Klandasan, the 2/27th formed the spearhead of the 21st Brigade's assault. The battalion captured key features overlooking the beachhead before follow-on forces passed through them and carried forward the attack.

While the operation was to be successful, the price was steep. Private Les Hanlon was killed in action during the landing. He was 24 years old.

Initially buried near where he fell, his remains were later reinterred in Labuan War Cemetery, where they lay today under the inscription chosen by his grieving family: “Gone but not forgotten”.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 40,000 Australians who died while serving in the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Leslie James Hanlon, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section