Leslie Maxwell (Max) Almond was born on 16 March 1926 in Newcastle, NSW. He first joined the Army in the CMF at 16 years of age but was discharged when it was found that he was under age. He re-joined in 1944 and served with the CMF on full-time service and int the AIF during the Second World War.
In 1952 Max enlisted in the ARA. By 1962 he had risen to warrant officer class two and was the battery sergeant major (BSM) of 105th Field Battery at Wacol, Brisbane. He then served in Borneo with70th Light Battery RA as a troop sergeant major in 1964 before joining the 102nd Field Battery RAA for service on the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. On return to Australia, Temporary WO1 Almond was posted to 132nd Divisional Locating Battery as the BSM.
Max was appointed RSM of 4th Field Regiment in 1966 and served in Vietnam in 1967-68. Returning to Australia, Max was posted to the Officer Training Unit Scheyville, NSW where he served for three years and was well liked and respected by staff and cadets alike. Max accepted a commission in 1971 and was posted to Headquarters Eastern Command. He discharged in 1975 in the rank of captain. Max went blind later in life and died peacefully in WA on 8 August 2017. His wife Yvonne predeceased him in 2016.
Vale Leslie Maxwell (Max) Almond – a soldier since the Second World War; Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam veteran; liked and respected WO1; and life member of the 105th Battery Association.
Acknowledgement:
- First published in Tiger Rag, Issue 49, February 2018
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