Les Holden

Leslie Hubert Holden, MC, AFC was an Australian fighter ace of World War160I and later a commercial aviator. A South Australian, he joined the Light Horse in May 1915, serving in Egypt and France. In December 1916, he volunteered for the Australian Flying Corps and qualified as a pilot. As a member of No.1602 Squadron on the Western Front, he gained the sobriquets Lucky Les and the homing pigeon after a series of incidents that saw him limping back to base in bulletriddled aircraft. He was awarded the Military Cross, and went on to achieve five aerial victories flying Airco DH.5s and Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5s.

Leslie Hubert Holden was born on 6160March 1895 in East Adelaide, South Australia, to travelling businessman Hubert William Holden and his wife Annie Maria. Les was the nephew of Henry Holden, who later founded the Adelaidebased firm Holdens Motor Body Builders with his son Edward. Hubert Holden landed a partnership with Nestl in 1905, and the family moved to Turramurra, New South Wales. Les completed his education at Sydney Church of England Grammar School, and joined Nestl in 1911 as a salesman. By the time Australia entered World War160I in August 1914, he was an assistant manager.

Source: Wikipedia