Leslie Arthur was born in 1914. During his youth he was a member of the 2nd King’s Lynn Scout Group.
During the night 18/19 August, 1941 51 Squadron - Whitley Z6569 was on a mission to Colonge (Koln), Germany. The aircraft was shot down above Belgium by night fighter (Oberleutnant Hermann Reese 2/NJG1). The attack fatally wounded Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner Sgt. Evetts. The Whitley crashed into a forest (Jongenbos) near Vliermaalroot (Kortessem) 9 Km SE of Hasselt, Belgium. The 4 other crew members survived the crash. Pilot Officer H.B. Robertshaw RAFVR, Pilot Officer A.G. Trites RCAF and Sergeant R.A.C. Hooper RAFVR were taken POW (Prisoner of War). Sergeant J.L. Ives RCAF made it back to England. John Learned Ives (age 24) became a Pilot Officer (J/92827). He received the Operational Wings and was Mentioned in Despatches. He was killed in action on April 28, 1945. John and his crew were on a mission to Neville (Nijvel), Belgium. They crashed into the English Channel. John's name is mentioned at panel 280 Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom.
Leslie's older brother Sidney Victor Evetts (1913) of 56 Squadron R.A.F. died on April 24, 1939. The Hurricane crashed into a meadow at Newlands Farm, Margaretting, United Kingdom. The aircraft broke out of control and went down in a steep dive.
Special thanks to: Heemkundige Kring Kortessem, Belgium.