The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (421012) Flight Sergeant Leslie John Gilbert, No. 299 Squadron, Royal Air Force, 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 Charis May, the story for this day was on (421012) Flight Sergeant Leslie John Gilbert, No. 299 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Second World War.

421012 Flight Sergeant Leslie John Gilbert, No. 299 Squadron, Royal Air Force
KIA 6 June 1944
Photograph: UK1369

Story delivered 2 April 2015

Today we pay tribute to Flight Sergeant Leslie John Gilbert, who was killed on active service with the Royal Air Force on D-Day, 6 June 1944.

D-Day has become an iconic event not only in the history of the Second World War but also in the history of the Western world. On this tumultuous day, a multi-national Allied force landed on the shores of Normandy. It was the first major step in the liberation of Western Europe from the tyranny of Nazism and fascism.

Leslie John Gilbert was born in Perth, Western Australia on 21 May 1914 to William and Mary Gilbert. Before his enlistment in the Royal Australian Air Force, Gilbert worked as foreman at Freezers Northern Meet Co-Operation in Casino, New South Wales. He and his wife, Heather Mary Gilbert, resided in Lismore.

After joining the Royal Australian Air Force Gilbert embarked for Britain. As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, he was one of almost 16,000 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners, and engineers who joined Royal Air Force squadrons throughout the course of the war.

In Britain he was promoted to Flight Sergeant, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, and in April 1944 he was posted to No. 299 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

Gilbert was regarded as “one of the best pilots” in the squadron, showing great “skill, determination and calmness” while flying, and was very popular member of the squadron.

No. 299 Squadron was a special operations squadron that became operational in April 1944. It performed the specialist task of dropping agents and supplying these special operatives as well as resistance movements working behind enemy lines in occupied Europe. In the early hours of 6 June 1944 No. 299 Squadron carried the paratroopers and gliders of the British 6th Airborne Division to their landing zones in Normandy.

The Stirling bomber piloted by Gilbert was shot down over the Ranville drop zone near Caen. All six crew members were killed, as were nine of the 20 paratroopers still on board. The 11 surviving paratroopers dropped safely over the target. They later reported that there was heavy flak when they left the aircraft.

Gilbert was 30 years old, one of the first Australians killed in the invasion of Europe.

Gilbert’s body was not recovered and his name is listed and commemorated upon the Air Forces Memorial overlooking the River Thames in Runnymede. The memorial lists all British and Commonwealth aircrew who died in the war and who have no known grave.

The photograph displayed today in front of the pool of reflection was taken just two days before Gilbert’s death in Normandy.

Gilbert was one of thousands of Australians who served in the British and Commonwealth forces on D-Day and throughout the Normandy campaign. On this day of days, Leslie John Gilbert made the ultimate sacrifice.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with around 40,000 Australians killed in the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Flight-Sergeant Leslie John Gilbert, and all of those Australians – as well as our Allies and brothers in arms – who gave their lives in the hope for a better world.

Dr Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section