Leonard Wilfred Powell

Leonard Wilfred Powell

Photo taken at Melville camp of ASC Drivers. back, l to r Stan Beale, George Fitzsimons, Wally Cowie, Archie Bowden, Des Rieger. Front: Alf Hughes, Jim Dunn, Arthur Hughes, Len Powell.
Personal Information
Date of Birth	1 Aug 1905
Place of Birth	Wungong, Western Australia
Death	12 Feb 1967, aged 61
Place of Death	Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	35 years, 1 month
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair ; scars on left knee and right shin
Occupation	Truck driver
Religion	Church of England
Address	William street, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Anne (Annie) Powell
Military Information
Reg Number	W13468 & WX28489
Date of Enlistment	22 Sep 1940 & 29 Dec 1941
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	2/13th Australian Field Ambulance
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

During 1927 Len had married Annie Smith (1905 - 1987) in Perth. Annie died on 9 Feb 1987, aged 82 in Inglewood. They had three children; Priscilla Powell (1927 - 2000); Beryl Jean Powell (1932 - 2003) and Irene Powell ( - 1977)

Electoral Roll entries: 1931 - 1937 at Ninth avenue, Armadale, motor mechanic; 1943 at William street, Armadale, labourer.

War Service

Original enlistment occurred on 22 Sep 1940 in the CMF with Len being called up for full time service from 30 Sep 1941, when based on his part time service, he was posted to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance. On 16 Jan 1942 he was appointed Lance Corporal and transferred to the Mobile Force at Bushmead. On 22 Feb 1942 Len was sent on a Fitter & Turners Course at the training centre in Claremont. He returned to his unit on 20 Jul 1942 and was promoted Acting Corporal, now qualified as a Fitter from 20 Jul 1942. From 30 Jul until 3 Aug 1942 he was a patient in the unit's Main Dressing Station before enlisting in the 2nd AIF on 6 Aug 1942 with a new Army Number of WX28489. Len's promotion to Corporal was confirmed on 20 Oct 1942.

Len entrained in Perth on 3 May 1943 for Queensland where on 23 Jul 1943 he transferred to the 1st Australian Army Reinforcement Depot for re-allotment, before joining the 15th Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 10 Aug 1943. From 1 - 28 Sep 1943 Len was in the 2/12th Australian General Hospital for assessment of his 'flat feet' and 'Catarrhal Deafness' with his status changing to 'B' on 24 Sep 1943. As a result he was transferred on 29 Sep 1943 to the 1st Australian Service Training Battalion. On 20 Oct 1943 Len was transferred to the Queensland Line of Communication Area Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. On 22 Oct 1945 Len was admitted to the 3rd Australian Camp Hospital with Dermatitis. This resulted in him being sent back to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 12 Nov 1943 for reallocation.

His next posting was on 15 Jan 1944 to the 4th Australian Ambulance Car Company, before a posting on 8 Feb 1944 to the 124th Australian General Transport Company. Still not settled, on 3 Apr 1944 he was transferred to the 5th Australian Base Workshop. However, a week later on 29 Apr 1944 he was sent to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot, this time for discharge, which took place on 19 May 1944.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1954 at 14 Robinson street, Bayswater, assembler; 1958 at Commercial Hotel Mingenew, labourer

Annie and Leonard at a family wedding