Author(s): Margaret Stansfield; Gary Barker

Tasmaniana Bargains

The book is the biography of Leslie Stansfield (1921 - 1961) - son, student, Immigrant, little brother, jackaroo, soldier, husband, overseer, father and soldier settler - recording his journey, thorough his short life, from England in the mid 1930s and then in Australia. The book is based on the extensive collection of his letters, diaries, military records and photographs, as well as research material held in National Archives, Australian War Memorial, State Archives. It is complimented by oral history interviews of his friends and others who knew him. Additional information on people mentioned in the text, through the use of End Notes, is provided to assist future researchers. The book is fully indexed and also includes historic maps. Les was a well educated man and had a love of nature and the natural world. Despite serving during World War 2, and carrying scars for the rest of his life, he still was able to write about his surroundings in a special way. The information that Les left is a rare record of the life of those who took orders while working on the land or serving in the Army. His war writings are vivid and confronting and help us understand what soldiers were up against. Les never gave up and finally achieved his dream of being a farmer in 1957 on King Island, Tasmania.