The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX143314) Sergeant Leonard George “Len” Siffleet, M Special Unit, Second World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (NX143314) Sergeant Leonard George “Len” Siffleet, M Special Unit, Second World War.

NX143314 Sergeant Leonard George “Len” Siffleet, M Special Unit
Executed 24 October 1943
Photograph: P02547.001

Story delivered 3 September 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Leonard George Siffleet, whose photograph is displayed beside the Pool of Reflection.

Len Siffleet was born on 14 January 1916 to Leo and Elizabeth Siffleet in Gunnedah, New South Wales. He was the third of seven children.

Len was an active and industrious child. He was a good sportsman, and was particularly good at swimming. At one point he used his knitting skills to outfit the Gunnedah pipe band with highland hose.

In the late 1930s he moved to Sydney with his older sister Pearl. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Len was called up for Militia service in 1940. He served in a searchlight unit for several months, but was released following the sudden death of his mother. He and his sister took on the responsibility for raising their younger siblings and Len supported the family financially.

Now engaged to Clarice Lane, Len joined the AIF in September 1941 and was posted to the 1st Division Signals Company at Ingleburn. In August 1942 he was sent to Melbourne to undertake a specialist signals course. The next month he volunteered for special duties and joined Z Special Unit. Sent to Cairns for training, he was selected to join a Dutch operation setting up a coast-watching station in Dutch New Guinea. This operation was given the code name “Whiting”.

Christmas 1942 found Len in Port Moresby, and it was here that he wrote his last letter home to his sister Pearl: “I hope you and the boys are well. I would like to see them, probably by the time I get back they will have grown to manhood. There’s no doubt they would have brightened up the place at Christmas. It would be grand if we could bring back one of those Christmases we used to have at home. Perhaps as the years go on, we may have the pleasure again.”

In February 1943 Len’s team was flown to Bena Bena, where they began their long trek through thick jungle and mountainous terrain to Aitape on the New Guinea coast. Though already deployed, in May Len was transferred to the newly raised M Special Unit and promoted sergeant.

By September Len and his comrades had reached the mountains above Aitape, but their presence was betrayed soon after by locals sympathetic to the Japanese and a bounty was offered for their capture.

Warned by other New Guineans that their operation had been compromised, the team pressed on. Some weeks later the party’s leader was killed in a Japanese ambush. Len and his comrades attempted to escape to the south, but during a meal break at Wantipi they were surrounded by about 100 local supporters of the Japanese. Len shot at his attackers, wounding one, and though he briefly broke free of the encirclement he was soon caught.

Len and his comrades were beaten and abused by their captors as they were taken to a Japanese outpost at Malol. Here the men were subjected to interrogation. Len was beaten repeatedly and, under extreme duress, gave away basic details of his mission while also providing false details to protect other operations in the area.

After two weeks the prisoners were transferred to Aitape, where their executions were ordered. At 3 pm on 24 October Len and two others were led onto the beach to a pre-dug hole in the sand. The men were blindfolded and then beheaded. They were buried in the sand and their bodies were never recovered. He was 27 years old.

The final moments of Siffleet’s life are captured in one of the most confronting images from the Second World War. Siffleet’s story, including this photograph, is featured in the permanent Second World War Galleries.

Len Siffleet’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left along with some 40,000 Australians who lost their lives in the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant Leonard George Siffleet, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.