Wayne Krause, Lord Howe Island Signal

The family would like to thank Chappie and Sharon for being here and for Chappie taking the service. Les specifically asked if Chappie could do this a couple of years ago because of his personal friendship with Chappie and the impact Chappie had on the Island Les loved.

If you will notice, Les is being buried next to a good mate Uncle Bill Retmock. Buried with Bill is a cricket bat and scythe. When Les heard about the scythe he commented, “You know, I may have lent that to Bill.” Bill had a number of scythes so, if they could chat together, they can argue about the scythe, cricket, the state of Lord Howe and the mainland.

Leslie Allen King was born in Petersham, NSW, on 30 August 1921, the only son of Norm and Maggie King. Due to limited medical facilities on Lord Howe, they travelled to Sydney for Les’s birth.

His childhood, like all of those in his day on the Island, was one of hard work but also fun. Many will remember the stories of working for Mr Dignam before and after school, baling up and milking cattle, tending gardens and other manual tasks. Hard work, but character building.

But there was fun too. The rascal aspect of Island kids. The type of stuff that the world misses these days. Nicking a great fresh, navel orange and eating it off the tree, grabbing a few fresh eggs, racing chooks (yep, they did it), fishing, sailing, swimming and just loving the Island.

While still at school on Lord Howe, Les had a job driving a horse and sleigh owned by Mr Whiting. The horse was named “Skidoo” and from that Les gained the nickname “Skid” which has stood ever since.

In 1937, at the age of 16, Les left Lord Howe to work on a farm in Mondrook, NSW, near Taree. The farm was owned by the family of his aunt, Evie King.  He then worked on an orange orchard nearby for 25 shillings per week plus his keep. He was able to purchase his first “flash” vehicle as he called it – a Malvern Star pushbike – which he rode everywhere. This started his love of motorbikes.

In 1942, with World War 2 under way, Les applied to join the RAAF. That was a life he loved. It fitted him. Organisation, preparation, presentation, discipline, attention to detail, but with it, mateship and fun.

After initial training as an airframe fitter, he was transferred to the operational fighter training base at Mildura to work on the Kittyhawk and Spitfire aircraft. Les served at six bases in Australia before being posted to RAAF Number 7 Beaufort Squadron at Aitape, New Guinea where he would serve until the war ended.

Following the Japanese surrender, Les was posted to Lae and then Rabaul.

Back in Australia, Les worked at Richmond on aircraft which were used to transport VIPs around the country. He recalls that squadron as “Paradise”.

In early 1950, Les was advised that he had been recommended for a transfer to RAAF Base Schofields. At the time, he held the rank of corporal.

On arrival at the Schofields base gate, Les identified himself as corporal L A King, reporting for duty. The gate said, “No, you are a sergeant”. Les responded that he was a corporal at Sale. The response was, “Well, you are a sergeant here – welcome”. 

While there he was trained as an instructor.

He was then posted to Singapore, living with the Royal Airforce, RAF.  He was so accepted by the RAF that he would represent the RAF in British Inter Service cricket.

Once, his great mate and a devout Catholic, Jim Lill, wanted to go to the Catholic church for Sunday mass and Les said he would take him. Unfortunately, Les dropped him off at the Methodist Church in Singapore because that was the only church he knew. It was a source of great laughter every time he raised it – just not with Jim.

One day Les was driving from his Aunty Jane’s place in Rushcutter’s Bay to Dee Why to attend a surf club dance, which were regular weekend events in those days.

So, it was Saturday afternoon, heavy traffic going to and from the Northern Beaches. Ourimbah Road and Spit Road are moving at less than a snail’s pace, and the poor policeman on point duty is under the pump.

As Les finally draws up to the intersection, he recognises the Policeman directing the traffic is Uncle Barry Thompson. When he gets to the turn, Les pulls over towards Uncle Barry, stops, leans out the window and says, “Excuse me officer, but would you please be able to give me directions to Ned’s Beach?”.

Les said the look on Uncle Barry’s face was priceless. That said, when he recognised Les, and the situation dawned, he gave some very clear and colorful directions which were not to Ned’s!

While at Richmond, Les went home on leave to Lord Howe. It was on this leave he first went out with Dulcie at a New Year’s celebration.  Dulcie had been about to announce her engagement to a young man from the mainland. Les had already been engaged a few times before, but always managed to get the engagement ring back. After their first date, with true RAAF precision, the courtship and engagement followed in quick succession. Three months after their first date, Les and Dulcie were married on Lord Howe. It was 2nd April, 1959. At the time of his death, they had been married 64 years and almost 6 months.

Tracey was born 10 months later in 1960, followed by sons, Stuart in 1962, and Hayden in 1964.

From Richmond, Les was posted to 75 squadron at Williamtown working on Sabre aircraft. There he worked with the aerobatic group, the “Black Diamonds” flying Sabres. Obviously, they wanted the best aircraft maintenance personnel, and that was Les, who travelled with them, servicing their aircraft wherever they went for RAAF celebrations and other special events. This may well have been Paradise squadron Number 2.

In 1963, the role of Assistant Superintendent on Lord Howe Island was advertised.

Les applied and was offered the role and after his voluntary discharge from the RAAF, he, Dulcie, Tracey and Stuart returned to Lord Howe.

Les has always said that the first couple of years back on Lord Howe were probably the hardest of his life. While it was good to be home, life was so different from his 21 years of adult life in the RAAF. Adjusting to Lord Howe, and to his role of being a “new return” and supervising people he had known since childhood, many being older than him, was also a challenge. Being special constable (and some years later also acting customs officer) may have also contributed to the challenges at times.  Perhaps this is where he developed the drive to “stick at it” which he has always reinforced to his children, and grandchildren, and has demonstrated whenever adversity has presented. You don’t get to live for 102 years and 22 days without “sticking at it”.  A lesson for us all, I am sure.

In addition to his day job, Les was always active. Tracey, Stuart and Hayden have childhood memories of him out of bed and off to milk the cows at or before daylight, delivering the milk to Pinetrees in the morning, then home for breakfast and off to work by 7 am. Guests at Pinetrees would often take their children to watch Les milk the cows, as it was a novelty for those from the city.

After work, Les would come home, change, then be off milking cows again with multiple billy cans. These billy cans were then carried on the motorbike and hung at “Billy Can Corner” for collection.

One of Hayden’s best memories is going to Mooreland with Les, the late Ken Ryan, the late Don Payten and his cousin Gary, while in Port Macquarie to watch the Ashes test series in 1977. Hayden says they drove around what was a very different town, but Les knew the streets, pointed out landmarks and painted a picture of a great part of his earlier life which still stays with Hayden today.

The movie, Indecent Obsession, was filmed on Lord Howe in 1985. When they finished, they left some of the movie set on site, including the big red cross of the set’s hospital. Les and Gower’s cow bale was in a pretty windy spot and so Ashley Wilson and Hayden built a new cow bale from items left by the film crew. They placed the red cross on one wall pointing at Pinetrees. Unfortunately, one day while Les was milking, a man rushed around the corner and asked if this was the first aid station as he had cut himself fishing.

When I proposed to Tracey on the mainland in 1994, I waited till Les was in rehab after a knee reconstruction, because I knew he couldn’t get up and thump me. He saw me coming in the hospital and I was by myself and asked to speak with him in private. I had left Tracey and Dulcie outside. When I told him I had proposed to Tracey and would like his blessing, there were tears in his eyes. I thought he was so happy to have me as his son in law but, as it turns out, when he saw me by myself, he thought Tracey had had an accident. He was so relieved that she was alright, he agreed to me marrying her.

Les’s home and lawn have always been a source of pride and focus for him. Weekends involved mowing the lawn, and edges cut around the house and Dulcie’s many plants and garden beds. There was never any mess left – it was RAAF standard perfection!  He taught the same type of focus to Stuart and Hayden. I must say that after I had been married to Tracey for 10 years, I was allowed to mow the lawn, with much supervision and suspicion that I wouldn’t do it right. I thought I had almost arrived.

Similar pride has always been shown in Les’s cars and motorbikes as well as the chainsaws and lawn mowers. All machinery and vehicles were well maintained, clean and whenever there was a rattle, or hint of a misfire, investigation and resolution was an immediate priority. There was many a time that I would drive Les somewhere on the mainland and he would comment that my car was “running well”, which was a relief!

Sport has always been a great source of enjoyment for Les. Cricket has been a particular passion, one which Stuart and Hayden share with him. During his time in the RAAF, Les represented the RAAF in the Australian Inter Service Cricket competition and represented the Combined Australian Services against the NSW Cricket Association.

As touched on earlier, during his time in Singapore where he lived in the RAF officers’ mess, Les represented the RAF in the Singapore local cricket competition and in the British Inter Service and Combined Services competition in Ceylon.

On Lord Howe, while cricket was played much less often, Les always loved to play and enjoyed the competition and mateship of sport equally.  Tennis, sailing, golf and lawn bowls were also enjoyed with Les also having reasonable success there. In fact, that’s probably a bit of an understatement when it comes to bowls, as in his retirement trips to Norfolk Island and the mainland to play in tournaments and represent Lord Howe, were regular and very much enjoyed.

Les has always loved people and been a very social person. Dinners, Friday nights at the RSL on Lord Howe and, after its closure, Pinetrees and Uncle Willie’s Bar at Blue Lagoon, were a regular destination.  Community events at the Bowling Club, Golf Club, Aquatic Club and the RSL were also things which Les actively participated in and enjoyed, very well supported by Dulcie.

As a loyal and dedicated servant and supporter of Lord Howe Island and its community, Les has supported all clubs and community organisations. He has been particularly dedicated to the RSL, holding the role of President of the Lord Howe Island sub-branch for some 30 years, and continuing to be active and interested in the RSL following stepping down from that role.

Les loved his weekly coffee with the Village Elders down at Thompsons, drinking with friends and having them come up and sit on his verandah.

Front and centre of Les’s life has always been his family. They have been his pride and joy and he has delighted in keeping up to date with children and grandchildren as they have grown – their interests, jobs taken, study, career paths chosen, getting licences and their care and maintenance of vehicles.

In June, 2021, during the 2^nd Covid lockdown, Les had a fall and was flown off Lord Howe for medical attention. Dulcie accompanied him.  Sadly, following a hospital admission and a number of months in Respite Care, our family was advised that Les and Dulcie were medically unable to return to Lord Howe, and Estia Aged Care at Blakehurst became their new home. The reality of not being able to return to Lord Howe was very difficult for Les but this was made easier to bear due to the wonderful care he received from the staff at Estia, in particular the two senior sisters in charge on his level, Jasmin and Sony, who we are honoured to have here today. As well, Les was cheered by the many visits from his family who were only a drive a way, and family and friends who visited from Lord Howe.

Les passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon, 21st September, at 4:21 pm. The last words Les and Dulcie said to each other were “I love you.”

A devoted husband to Dulcie, loving father to Tracey, Stuart and Hayden and father-in-law, to Wayne, Lea and Jo-Anne, adoring Pa to Mitchell, Jessica, Jessy and Erin, he will be greatly missed.

He was a strong and honest man and a great supporter, guide and friend.

Les King, 102! Out! Caught on the boundary. What an innings.

Lest we forget.

This article appeared in The Lord Howe Island Signal, 31 October 2023.