Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born Kangarilla, SA on 13 December 1915, the first child of Torrance (“Toll”) and Ruby Golder. Attended Kangarilla School and on leaving did farm work and worked on the construction of the Mount Bold Reservoir, about a mile from his parents farm. Had an interest in motor bikes and machinery, and in the 1930’s drove tractors in dam sinking and other work in the far north of South Australia. In about 1940 he had tractor work on Kangaroo Island, where he first met his future wife, Mavis Annie Harry.

Notified of his call up for military service early 1941, he was taken on strength of 18th Light Horse (MG) Regiment on 30 July 1941. He trained with this unit until transfer to 12th Armoured Regiment 23 June 1942. In September he volunteered for the AIF (SX23522) and did specialised training as a Driver/Mechanic at Puckapunyal. Transferred to 2/9th Armoured Regiment in September 1943, he attended Armoured Fighting Vehicle Tech Training Course March to May 1944, getting a “Good Pass” and Trade Group ranked as Craftsman.

On 12 April 1945 he embarked with his Regiment at Cairns for Morotai from whence he boarded USS Carter Hall 30 May 1945 for the invasion of British North Borneo/Labuan. He served there as an AFV (Matilda Tank) mechanic/fitter and bulldozer operator until he embarked on HMAS Manoora 3 October to return to Australia. Discharged in Adelaide 26 October 1945, he immediately went to KI, married Mavis on 20 November 1945 and worked for his new father-in-law “Art” Harry in his cold stores. They had three sons Michael (1948), Larry (1951-2002) and Brently (1959).

Les spent the rest of his life on KI. In the 1950’s he established a mechanical repair business which expanded into a vehicle dealership (BMC; Datsun), fuel retailer (Neptune) and electrical goods. He was a keen fisherman, a keen 'tinkerer' with anything mechanical, a member of the RSL and later Lions, and with his wife Mavis, a musician and local dance band sax player. Mavis died in May 1995, Les in November 2000, just shy of his 85th birthday.