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41225 Flying Officer Lester Charles MULHOLLAND.
Sister: Miss E.A. Mulholland of SUMNER.

Lester Mulholland was born at Christchurch on the 13th December 1913. He received his secondary education at the Sumner District High School, and later passed his University Entrance examination while attending night classes at Bank Commercial College. He furthered his study for the B.Com. degree, at the Dominion College of Accounting and Banking, and Canterbury University College, passing in two subjects. He was employed by Sumner Borough Council for a number of years until accepting employment in 1938 with the Public Works Department at Christchurch, and was still in this employ at the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 21st May, 1940.

Flying Officer Mulholland was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 16th February 1941 and posted to Harewood on the 4th May for his pilot training. Here this was terminated the same month, and he was reposted to Levin early in August for training as an Observer. He embarked for Canada on the 22nd September, to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival there he proceeded on the 11th October to No. 6 Observer School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and then on the 17th January 1942 to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan. Here on the 28th February, he was awarded the Air Observer badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant, before posting on the 1st March to No. 1 Air Navigation Schools, Rivers, Manitoba. At the end of the course there he was awarded the Air Navigators' badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 4th April 1942. Later, while serving in the Pacific, he was further promoted to Flying Officer on the 4th October 1942. Meantime, during April 1942, he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for repatriation to New Zealand.

Flying Officer Mulholland disembarked in New Zealand on the 12th June, and was posted to the Operational Training Unit at Nelson later the same month. Here he crewed up and completed his training as Navigator of Hudson aircraft before joining No. 3 Squadron at Whenuapai on the 23rd September. He proceeded overseas with