October 16, 1941 is a day Les Kohlhagen still remembers, even though he’s now 95 years of age.
Living at the family homestead in Tanunda’s Goat Square at the time, it was the day, as an 18 year old, he was called up for National Service.
Les Kohlhagen as an 18 year old.
“As soon as we got the letter, we said yes, we’ll do it - support the country,” said Les.
“We were young and didn’t think that much about it, we’d go ahead and do it. We had no choice, you got the notice and you had to go.”
Today, living at Tanunda Lutheran Home, Les’ memories of WWII have begun to fade but the words his officer said on his last day of service still remain vivid.
“He said don’t forget those fellas that we left behind...there were thousands of them...and now that you’re going back home again, whenever something comes up, you stick up for your rights and I have done!”
Several years ago, with assistance from his friend, the late Mr Wes Liersch, Les wrote down his memories - “Lest We Forget”.
Read his recollections, which include the bombing of Darwin, in the April 17 printed edition of The Leader.
