Leslie John Pye
Bio
Leslie John Pye was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1931. After finishing high school at North Cape College in 1948, he was the top of the inaugural class of the Regular Force Cadet Unit in the New Zealand Army. After completion of basic military and armored corp training, he trained the intake that came in as part of the initial body of soldiers sent from New Zealand to Korea. In 1952, he was retrained as a signaler and sent to Korea to join the 16th New Zealand Field Regiment at the 161st Battery Command Post. He describes his role as a signaler covering hill 355 at the Battle of the Hook. He provides details about his eventual reassignment to the British Army, 1st Royal Tank Regiment and rescue missions in the Centurion Mark 3 Main Battle tank.
Video Clips
Gathering Target Information
Leslie Pye outlines the routine and role of a signaler. To ensure accuracy of the weapons, he elaborates on the importance of knowing the meteorological information. He describes the gathering of target information to determine the type of fire pattern and trajectory for the bombardment. He clarifies that after this routine was completed, the battery operations could launch the bombardment.
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Covering Little Gibraltar
Leslie Pye provides a description of his experience as a signaler covering Hill 355, known as Little Gibraltar, in the Battle of the Hook. He offers an overview of the amount of artillery activity during the period of March to the end of April 1953. He does not recall receiving incoming fire but did experience a projectile exploding just outside of one of their gun barrels.
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Reassignment to the British Royal Tank Unit
Leslie Pye elaborates on his transfer to the 1st British Royal Tank Regiment and the training process for the British Centurion British Tank. He recounts his experience as a gunner sent to Hill 355 as a replacement tank supporting night patrols. He shares how most of the firing was done at night and explains some of the limitations they experienced.
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Dangerous Moments Gathering the Wounded
Leslie Pye describes his mission on the 24th of July 1953 to retrieve wounded soldiers on Hill 111. While moving up the hill, he admits he did not warn his driver before test firing the gun on the top rail of the tank. He provides sound advice that one should not go into battle without knowing your machine gun will work. With the battle raging around them, he describes the successful retrieval of Australian and American wounded soldiers.
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Haunting Memories
Leslie Pye remembers what it was like going back up HIll 111 to gather reusable material for the new line of resistance. He reflects on the experience of arriving on the 28th of July and seeing the carnage of the previous battle. He shares the memories of what he saw that haunt him.
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Photos
Reunion
46 years later. Major (Retired) Pye (2nd right) and Trooper (Retired) Morris at the latter’s home 1999, Wrexham, Wales, UK
Tank
Centurion Mark 3 Main Battle Tank. May 1953
Tank
Centurion Mark 1 Resupply, Cpl Pye, Commander and Tpr Morris Radio Operator near “The Hook” 25 May 1953.
Equipment Check
Equipment Check Centurion Mark 3 “BARDIA” . Corporal Pye front centre. May 53
Presentation
Image taken prior to the presentation of the painting to the New Zealand Army. The painting was commissioned in honor of Corporal Gordon Brian Cook who lost his life on 26 May 1952 during a bombardment of the New Zealand Army’s 5th Interscalene Junior Guard Tank Regiment.
Les Pye hands ownership of the painting to Major General Mateparae
Speech
Right Honourable Jonathan Hunt addresses the gathering on behalf of the House of Representatives
Art
The Coordinator, Artist and Major General Mateparae following the gifting of the work. The painting was commissioned in honor of Corporal Gordon Brian Cook who lost his life on 26 May 1952 during a bombardment of the New Zealand Army’s 5th Interscalene Junior Guard Tank Regiment.
