Lester Norman Applebee

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 23/12/2016 - 13:27

First Name:

Lester

Middle Name:

Norman

Last Name:

Applebee

Date of Birth:

Wednesday, May 3, 1893

Mother's Name:

Louisa Applebee nee Baker

Father's Name:

Benjamin Applebee

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, January 5, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Corporal

Unit:

1st Pioneer Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, December 14, 1977

Place of Death:

Wollongong, N.S.W.

Details:

Lester Applebee (Service No 1812) was born in Sydney.

Lester was single, 23 years old, worked as a carpenter, and lived at Balgownie, N.S.W. when he enlisted. He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic with 2nd Reinforcements, 1st Pioneer Battalion on 14th April 1916. The troops arrived in England on 11th June 1916.

Lester was 'taken on strength' in France on 11th March 1917 and saw service on the Western Front. He was promoted to Corporal on 26th October 1917.

On 31st March 1918 he was wounded in action and was evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a shrapnel wound to his right thigh, returning to his unit on 16th October 1918.

Lester was returned to Australia in July 1919 and discharged from the AIF on 11th September 1919.

In 1922 he married Vilda Ford in Wollongong and they raised 2 children.

Lester died in Wollongong in 1977. He is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, APPLEBEE L N