AS the nation prepares to pause and pay respect to the men and women who served our country, Leslie Smith and Theresa Fletcher share their experiences in the Australian Army in the lead up to Anzac Day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Les is 98 years old, which might just place him as the oldest living ex-serviceman in Moree. He joined the army in 1943, at a tumultuous time when the world wasn’t in just global conflict but economic strife.
“The Great Depression had made life tough for everyone. When the war came, there was a call for everyone to do their part. In a way, I was joining the army because I wanted to be part of the war effort, but also needed that security.”
Les was stationed with the 92 Transport Platoon at Papua New Guinea, thrown into an alien world.
“When you’re over there, nothing matters but your mates. You’ve got to look after each other. They’re the ones who really helped me get through those years,” he said.
READ ALSO:
Les didn’t see any combat as he worked as ground staff, but he faced many battles of his own. The call to arms had taken Les away from his home in Australia, leaving behind his wife Marie.
“We would write letters to each other every week. It was a struggle. I feel like I missed out on my life back home, but I knew I was doing something important in New Guinea,” he said.
Les was so far removed from everyday life back home, that even family holiday celebrations played second fiddle to life.
Some soldiers returned home changed, but me and my mates were fortunate to be able to readjust to life. I went on to be a mechanic.
- Les Smith
“I remember the Christmas of 1943. Some soldiers received parcels from back home. I got one from my step-mother, which had little cakes. Other than that, it was business as usual. I was always worried about the war, how it would end. I always thought about what would happen afterwards, if there would be another one.”
Besides a three week stint in hospital, suffering from an unknown illness, and a couple of spider bites and caterpillar bites, Les was able to return home at the end of the war unscathed. He said he considers himself lucky, knowing that the battle, in many ways, continued for other soldiers.
“Some soldiers returned home changed, but me and my mates were fortunate to be able to readjust to life. I went on to be a mechanic.”
Les says he has lived a long and happy life, though with long life comes a few downsides.
“Many of my mates have passed on, and few are still around.”
Theresa Fletcher’s service was more close to home, with women’s role in the army during the Vietnam War restricted to non-combat roles.
“I joined in 1971 and worked as a cook for the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corp.”
Theresa said she had always wanted to take part in the fight for country, as her grandfather had fought in the British Navy and her father had enlisted in the army before her.
I would be working with 40kgs of flour to make danish pastries. That was a lot of hard work. I refuse to make pastries since leaving the army.
- Theresa Fletcher
“I remember for careers day, the teacher asked me what I wanted to do, and I said I wanted to be a cook for the army.”
At the time, women were allowed to do basic training, learning the march routine, saluting and how to recognise different ranks.
Theresa was assigned to cook at Puckapunyal, cooking in the sergeant and officer’s mess.
“There were about 75-150 mouths to feed in the mess. I was lucky I wasn’t in the private’s mess, because cooks had to serve 500 soldiers,” she said.
Theresa served Vietnam veterans, recruits and soldiers in reserves breakfast, lunch, entree, dinner and dessert.
“I would be working with 40kgs of flour to make danish pastries. That was a lot of hard work. I refuse to make pastries since leaving the army,” she said.
Although Theresa left the army in 1974, her experiences linger.
“My number in the army was F25698. Anyone who is part of the army will always remember their number.”