Leslie Irvine Hillas

Les was born on the 21st of January 1919 at Tallangatta, Victoria. He was one of four children of Allen and Sarah Frances (née Irvine), however their first child, Maisie, had died soon after birth. The 1922 Electoral Roll shows that the Hillas family spread around the Tallangatta area, with Allen farming at Ormidale. 

Growing up on a farm must have helped Les to develop an interest in wildlife. There are a number of letters that Les had written to Charles Barrett, the correspondent for the Weekly Times section “The Australian Boy and His Hobbies”, which offer us a snapshot of Les’ childhood.

4th of July 1931 

“At George’s Creek

Dear Charles Barrett.- This is the first time I have written to you. I received my Club card, and like it very much. I attend the George’s Creek school, and am in the eighth grade. There are 13 children going to this school. My brother has had a few traps set, and one morning he caught a fox. He has been catching a lot of rabbits. We have four dogs - Fly, Tiny, Flossy and Brownie. My mother has a pet parrot which can whistle a little. Wishing the Camp Fire Club every success.

Leslie Hillas”

9th April 1932

“Pet Puppies

Dear Charles Barrett, - We have been having some heavy rain here, and it made all of the clover seeds come up. At Cravensville before the rain, the bush fires were so dangerous that nearly every night we could see reflections in the sky.

We have got two little pups named Schneider and Stettson. They are very funny. The other three dogs don’t ike them. I would to correspond with another boy about 13, in Australia or Canada who is fond of hunting and country life.

Leslie Hillas (Tallangatta, Vic)”

1st of October 1932

“WILD ORCHIDS

Dear Charles Barrett,- I am in the eighth grade this year, and I expect to get my merit before I leave. There are 12 children going to the school at Gerge’s Creek. We are milking nine cows so far, and hope to be milking 15 before the end of the season. Recently we found several plants of Coryanthes dilatata. I think that the orchids are the prettiest wildflowers. I am collecting stamps now, and have 41. 

Wishing the Page much success.

Leslie Hillas (Tallangatta, Vic.)”

A little over four months later, in the 21st of January 1933 edition of the paper, the correspondent, Charles Barrett, responded to a question that Les had asked regarding a particular type of grasshopper that he’d found on his family property.

Les enlisted on the 2nd of July 1940, being allocated the Service Number VX29629 and joining the 2/29th Infantry Battalion.

The 2/29th Battalion did its initial training at Bonegilla just outside of Wodonga. At the end of February 1941 it then moved to Bathurst, NSW where it remained for the next five months. At the end of July it embarked on the troop ship “Marnix” at Station Pier Port Melbourne and sailed with the rest of the 27th Brigade arriving at Singapore in mid-August. After about one month the battalion travelled to Segament in Malaya on order to continue its training in jungle warfare.

Japanese forces landed in many areas in Thailand and Malaya just before midnight of the 7th of December. Within three weeks they had reached the Muar River, in northern Johore. The area was defended by a poorly trained Indian Brigade so the 2/29th and 2/19th were sent in as reinforcements. The battalion reached Bakri on the 17th of January where they took up defensive positions. There was fierce fighting the following day, with several Japanese tanks being destroyed by gunners of the 2/4th Anti-tank Regiment.

It was during this days’ fighting that Les was posted as missing in action. A member of the battalion mentioned that he thought he had seen Les on the evening of the 19th of January near Bakri and that he had been severely wounded in the leg. Nothing more was heard, or seen, of Les and it was believed that he had succumbed to his wounds.

Les’ name is listed amongst those with no known grave on the Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery and he is also remembered at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour and the Tallangatta RSL War Memorial. For his service, he was awarded the Pacific Star, the 1939-1945 Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.