Metal identity discs: Leading Aircraftman E Lee, No. 22 Repair and Salvage Unit, RAAF

Pair of identity tags - one hexagonal, one circular, each engraved '42868 Lee E. RAAF CE' and 'AB 1' on reverse.

Associated with the service of 42868 Leading Aircraftman Ernest Lee. Lee was born Yorkshire, England on 5 June 1908 and was working as a miner when he enlisted in the RAAF in Melbourne on 29 September 1941. Lee initially trained as a service policeman at 1 School of Technical Training and 1 Aircraft Depot, until 29 January 1942 when he remustered as an aircrafthand and moved to 3 Bombing and Gunnery School in Sale, Victoria. In July Lee was posted to No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot, Swan Hill, Victoria before moving back to 1 School of Technical Training. He was posted to 1 Aircraft Depot in April 1943 where he retrained as a coppersmith before being posted to 22 Repair and Salvage Unit in August. This unit moved to Queensland in the latter part of the year before relocating to Nadzab, Papua New Guinea in February 1944. The unit then moved to Cape Gloucester, New Britain where Lee was wounded on 26 May trying to remove the detonator from a Japanese shell. He was taken to 21 Medical Clearing Station in Port Moresby before being moved to 1 Reserve Personnel Pool at Aitkenvale, Queensland on 8 June. He arrived at 6 RAAF Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria on 12 June. Lee was discharged on 11 September permanently medically unfit for further duty.