Leigh Vial

Leigh Vial

Flight Lieutenant Leigh Vial in 1942
Born (1909-02-28)28 February 1909
Camberwell, Victoria
Died 30 April 1943(1943-04-30) (aged 34)
Benabena, Papua New Guinea
Buried Lae War Cemetery
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service 1942–1943
Rank Flight Lieutenant
Service number 253939
Unit Coastwatchers
Battles/wars

Second World War

Awards Distinguished Service Cross (United States)

Leigh Grant Vial (28 February 1909 – 30 April 1943) was an Australian patrol officer and coastwatcher in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War. While a patrol officer he became the first white person to climb Mount Wilhelm, the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea. Vial was killed in a plane crash in 1943, the year after he had been awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross for his "extraordinary heroism" in New Guinea.[1] He is buried in Lae War Cemetery.[2]

References

  1. Gammage, Bill (2002). "Vial, Leigh Grant (1909–1943)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 16. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. "Vial, Leigh Grant". Casualty Details. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
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