A Second War Group of Four to Private Leslie T. Oelkers; Australian Imperial Forces

1939-1945 Star (QX53053 L.T. OELKERS); Pacific Star (QX53053 L.T. OELKERS); War Medal 1939-1945 (QX53053 L.T. OELKERS); and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 (QX53053 L.T. OELKERS). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, original ribbons, light contact and surface wear, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records and Discharge Certificate.

Footnote: Leslie Thomas Oeklers was born on June 2, 1916 in Toowoomba (near Brisbane), Queensland, Australia. He enlisted as a Private (QX53053) with the Australian Military Forces on August 15, 1940 at Toowooba, Australia, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his father, William L. Oelkers of Toowoomba, that he was Single, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his occupation was that of Carpenter's Labourer. He was then placed with the 25th Infantry Battalion, which had camps at Toowoomba and Chermside. He was placed on full time duty at Cabanah as of December 16, 1941. Oeklers embarked Townsville, Queensland for Milne Bay, on the eastern tip of New Guinea, aboard the Dutch merchant ship Bontekoe, on July 12, 1942, where he served with the 25th Infantry Battalion in New Guinea as of July 1942, followed by a transfer to the 7th Infantry Brigade on October 1st. Oelkers officially enlisted with the Australian Imperial Forces on May 3, 1943, at the age of 26, one month shy of his twenty-seventh birthday. After having served sixteen months in New Guinea, he embarked Port Moresby, in south-east New Guinea for Townsville, aboard the Bathurst-class corvette HMAS Katoomba on November 16, 1943. Oelkers attended the Jungle Warfare School at Canungra, south of Brisbane, from March 28 to April 6, 1944. After completing his jungle training, he embarked Brisbane for Madang, in north-east New Guinea aboard the HMAS Katoomba on July 24, 1944. He was attached to the 61st Infantry Battalion from September 13 to 21, 1944, then two months later, embarked Madang for Torokina on Bougainville Island, east of New Guinea aboard the troop ship Cape Victory on November 10, 1944. His second tour in New Guinea lasted five months, before he embarked Bougainville for Townsville aboard the merchant ship SS Ormiston, on December 23rd. He was in Australia when he was hospitalized and treated for malaria from February 6 to 12, 1945. After recovering from the malady, he returned to New Guinea for a third tour of duty, embarking Brisbane for Torokina aboard the HMAS Katoomba on April 7, 1945. Six months later, and with the war having concluded, he was transferred to the 23rd Infantry Brigade on October 19th, then posted to the 126th Infantry Brigade Workshops on January 27, 1946. After having served another ten months in New Guinea, he embarked Torokina, Bougainville for Sydney, Australia aboard the SS Ormiston on February 9, 1946. Private Oeklers was discharged at Headquarters, 7th Australian Infantry Brigade at Redbank, Brisbane, on March 25, 1946. He received his 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 in 1950.