John Leslie Mackintosh

L.A.C.

John Leslie Mackintosh was born on the 19th December 1922 and was the son of John and May Mackintosh and brother to James Muriel Brian Morris and Jean. The family lived at Hambleton Avenue off Boroughbridge Road. Les won a scholarship to the Grammar School where he excelled at football and cricket. Later as a member of the Northallerton Alliance Football Club he was in the team that won the Millbank Junior cup of 1938. As soon as he was old enough Leslie joined the local Squadron Air Training Corps.

When he left school he worked at the County Hall as a clerk to the Clerk of the County Council . Leslie was extremely proficient at Pitmans shorthand in which he held two qualification, one at the recognised speed of 80 words per minute and the other in theory .

In December 1941 Leslie volunteered for the RAF and trained as a wireless mechanic. In June 1944 he landed in Normandy with 5144 M.S.U. No 35 Wing RAF as part of the invasion forces. He was a popular member of the unit taking part in many of soccer matches and was always recognised as a friendly and willing lad. On the 16th August 1944 Leslie was involved in an accident in which he received fatal injuries. He was buried on the 17th of August in a local military cemetery in Caen.

In 1947 Leslie was moved into Plot IV Row B Grave No 8 in a Commonwealth Wargrave Cemetery at La Delivrande near Caen. He is also remembered in the Central Church of the Royal Air Force St. Clement Danes London, the Romanby War Memorial, the Grammar School Memorial Plaque and on the NALGO Memorial in County Hall. Leslie was aged 21 years.

MEDALS: 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, Victory Medal, Defence Medal