Lester Norman Applebee
Personal details
| Date of birth | Wednesday 3 May 1893 |
| Mother's name | Louisa Applebee nee Baker |
| Father's name | Benjamin Applebee |
| Date of death | Wednesday 14 December 1977 |
| Place of death | Wollongong, NSW |
Service details
| Date enlisted | Wednesday 5 January 1916 |
| Rank at enlistment | Private |
| Rank at discharge | Corporal |
| Service | Infantry |
| Unit | 1st Pioneer Battalion |
| Awards | British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Story
Lester Applebee (Service No 1812) was born in Sydney.
Lester was single, 23 years old, worked as a carpenter, and lived at Balgownie, NSW when he enlisted. He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic with 2nd Reinforcements, 1st Pioneer Battalion on 14th April 1916. The troops arrived in England on 11th June 1916.
Lester was 'taken on strength' in France on 11th March 1917 and saw service on the Western Front. He was promoted to Corporal on 26th October 1917.
On 31st March 1918 he was wounded in action and was evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a shrapnel wound to his right thigh, returning to his unit on 16th October 1918.
Lester was returned to Australia in July 1919 and discharged from the AIF on 11th September 1919.
In 1922 he married Vilda Ford in Wollongong and they raised 2 children.
Lester died in Wollongong in 1977. He is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial.
Information sources
NAA: B2455, APPLEBEE L NRelated links
https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=6526
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10647550