Meiss goggles with pouch and spare lenses : Mr J M Lerew

Pair of Meiss goggles in a red pouch. The goggles have a clear plastic one-piece lens fitted, which has discoloured. The lens is fitted over the frame, which is made of two identically shaped parts - one to go against the wearer's face, the other to hold the lens. They are joined by grey rubber dividers which also provides the ventilation. The frame is lined with cream velveteen. An elastic adjustable strap with metal buckle is attached at each end. The pouch has a flap at one of the short ends, which can be secured underneath a strap across the pouch. Underneath is the Meiss logo printed in gold ink. The pouch contains a paper envelope containing two spare lenses. On one side of the envelope is printed 'Ersatzglas / Verre de rechange / Spare glass' 'Made in Switzerland' together with the Meiss logo and the text 'SPORT MEISS'. On the other side of the envelope is 'Ersatzglas / Verre de rechange / Spare glass', the Meiss logo and the text 'SPORT MEISS'.

John Margrave Lerew was born at Hamilton, Victoria on 20 August 1912. He studied at University, graduating with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. He enlisted as an air cadet in the RAAF Citizens Forces and was allocated the service number C5499. Prior to this he had served in the Scotch College Cadet Corps, served a year as an artillery surveyor with 3 Division, four months with Melbourne University Regiment and had completed nine months compulsory training with 39 Battalion. On 1 April 1933 Lerew was commissioned as a pilot officer with the service number 73. He was promoted to flying officer in 1935 and probationary flight lieutenant in 1936, the rank being confirmed in 1937. In that year Lerew became a staff officer in the Directorate of Works and Buildings at RAAF headquarters. He was connected with Air Force Works and the selection of aerodrome sites in Australia. Lerew was later appointed to command an aircraft park and technical squadron at 2 Aircraft Depot. He was promoted to squadron leader in June 1940. On 31 May 1941 Lerew was appointed commander of 24 Squadron and promoted to temporary wing commander in October. He commanded the squadron during the occupation of Vuna and Lakunai aerodromes at Rabaul, New Britain from 5 December 1941 to 23 January 1942. Lerew evacuated Rabaul with 24 Squadron, with some members of the Army and civilians, to Port Moresby after the Japanese invaded Rabaul on 23 January. On 11 February 1942 Lerew led a formation of three Hudsons from Port Moresby on low level attacks on shipping at Gasmata, New Britain. His plane was attacked and caught fire. Lerew was the only member of the crew to escape the blazing aircraft. He spent eight days evading the Japanese before escaping to New Guinea. Lerew received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his service in New Britain. He returned to Australia and took command of Station Headquarters at Townsville, Qld; then Nowra, NSW followed by Batchelor, NT. In August 1942 he assumed command of 7 Squadron until mid December when he took command of 1 Aircraft Depot for a year. At the end of December 1943 he travelled to England, via the United States of America and Canada to study aircraft accident prevention. While in England Lerew was presented with his DFC by King George VI at Buckingham Palace. In 1946 he left the RAAF and began working for the International Civil Aviation Organisation in Canada. He remained with them in a number of different capacities until he retired in 1972. After returning to Australia in 1945, Lerew had married Laurie Steele and settled in South Yarra, Victoria. Laurie had been widowed when her first husband was killed in a night flying accident while serving with the Royal Air Force and Lerew had her when he was in England and she was in charge of the female staff at an aircraft factory. He convinced her to return to Australia. They had two daughters but their marriage broke down and they divorced. In 1963 Lerew met Oude Reimerink, known as Josephine, a Dutch woman who had survived the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. They married in Mexico in 1966 and eventually settling in Vancouver, Canada. John Margrave Lerew died on 24 February 1996.