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412346 Sergeant Leslie Hunter Martin. (surname underlined)
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Martin of Palmerston North (town underlined)

Leslie Martin was born at Perth, Scotland on the 11th May 1909 and his secondary education was received there at hte Old Balhousie School where he gained the Certificate of Merit. About the year 1927 he accompanied his parents to New Zealand, (redacted when they came to this country to make their home there.) The sports he took part in where soccer, hockey and shooting. His civilian occupation was that of a hairdresser in his father's employ in Palmerston North. During August, 1940 he applied for war service in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Sergeant Martin was enlisted for aircrew training on the 13th April, 1941 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and on the 18th June he embarked for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after his arrival in Canada, Sergeant Martin was posted on the 5th July, (redacted 1941) to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. At the conclusion of this course, he was posted on the 31st January, 1942 to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, Ontario, and while here on the 2nd March, (redacted 1942) was awarded his air gunner's badge and received his promotion to sergeant. Following this on the 11th March, 1942 he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Having arrived in England on the 28th March, 1942, Sergeant Martin was held at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, until posted on the 28th April to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, first at Steeple Morden and later at Bassingbourne, both in Hertfordshire to crew-up and complete his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. On the 6th August (redacted 1942) he was posted to No. 115 Squadron, Marham. With this squadron as Rear Gunner of a Wellingotn bomber he took part in sixteen operational flights comprising attacks on Frankfurt,