LESLIE THEODORE GARDINER
Leslie Gardiner was a Sergeant, Air Gunner with 514 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Date of birth 15th Feb 1924. He had a younger brother and an older sister.
Worked at the Bata from 1939 (at age 15)
Service No: 1626043
He died on Friday 21st January 1944.
Leslie joined the Bata Industrial Training College in 1939 from Blackhall (a Coal Mining Area) County Durham and played as a member of the College Football Team as well as being part of the Fire Brigade in the Factory. He was also remembered being on Night Watch in the First Aid Section at the beginning of the War.
Leslie Theodore Gardiner, aged 20.
Leslie Theodore Gardiner with his Unit on August 29th 1942.
(Details From Bomber Command Losses) Shot down by a night-fighter on the outbound leg to Magdeburg and whilst at 21000. Flying a Avro Lancaster II Serial no: LL680.
Letter to Leslie’s parents dated February 1944 from Bruce Shaw of the Welfare Department.
Letter of sympathy from John Tusa, General Manager dated March 1944.
Final resting place Hanover War Cemetery Germany.
