Sgt Leonard G. Siffleet
Australian Army, "M" Special Unit

Background
Leonard George Siffleet was born January 14, 1916 to parents Vincent Siffleet and Alma Elizabeth Siffleet in Gunnedah, New South Wales in Australia. His father was of Dutch ancestry.

Wartime History
In August 1940 called up for service in the militia and attached to a searchlight unit at Richmond Airfield. On September 10 1941 at Kings Cross joined the Australian Army with serial number NX143314 (N213944). Assigned to signals company in Ingleburn and completed a radio course at at Melbourne Technical College. He was engaged to Ms. Clarice Lane.

During September 1942 volunteered for commando duty and was assigned to the Allied Intelligence Bureau, Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD) in Melbourne. On October 12, 1942, assigned to "Z" Special Unit and had further training in Cairns and posted to the SRD Dutch section. On May 5, 1943, he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to "M" Special Unit.

Siffleet was assignment was "Operation Whiting" led by Sgt H. N. Staverman, Royal Netherlands Navy, Sgt Siffleet plus two Ambonese: Private H. Pattiwal and Private M. Reharing. They treked with members of "Operation Locust" led by Lt. A. J. Fryer over two months overland to Lumi where they established a coastwatcher station.



In early July 1943, the members of "Operation Whiting" left Lumi to establish a coastwatcher station near Hollandia. During September 1943, Staverman and Pattiwal separated to patrol independently but were ambushed by a group of natives who killed Staverman. In the confusion, Pattiwal managed to escape and rejoined Siffleet and Reharing.  Afterwards, Siffleet radioed Lt. Fryer at Lumi to warn them about hostile locals and said he would burn his code books and bury his radio. This was his last signal.

In early October 1943 the three attempted to reach the border with Dutch New Guinea. Near Aitape, they were ambushed by a group of a hundred locals and opened fire but were quickly overwhelmed then turned over to the Japanese and became Prisoners Of War (POW). Over two weeks the prisoners were questioned and tortured. Afterwards, Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Admiral Michiaki Kamada ordered them to be executed.

On October 24, 1943 all three were blindfolded and bound and forced to knell on the beach at Aitape. As a large group of Japanese and locals watched, all three were executed by sword. Siffleet was executed by Japanese Navy Lt. Yasuno Chikao from Minseibu using a sword. Moments before the execution, a photograph was taken of Siffleet with Lt. Chikao holding his sword with both hands over his head before he was decapitated. During late April 1944, a copy of this photograph was captured by U.S. Army and later published in newspapers including LIFE Magazine as evidence of Japanese atrocities. Siffleet remains were never recovered and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA).


Memorials
Siffleet was officially declared dead October 24, 1943 at age 27. He is memorialized at Lae War Cemetery on the Lae Memorial, panel 2.

During May 2015, a memorial park commemorating Siffleet was also dedicated in Aitape.

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Leonard George Siffleet, NX143314 (N213944)
CWGC - Leonard George Siffleet
FindAGrave - Leonard George “Len” Siffleet (photos)
FindAGrave - SGT Leonard George Siffleet (photos)

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