Full medal write up
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL G.V (MILITARY) ‘FLT. SGT. LESLIE S. ROCKEY (R.A.F. 569639) R.C.A.F.’, 1939-1945 STAR AND FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR, DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS; TOGETHER WITH DOG TAGS STAMPED ‘GB 53981 OFFICER LS ROCKEY CE RAF’.
B.E.M. (Military Division) London Gazette 1 January 1943:
‘Flight Sergeant Leslie Sydney Rockey, (R.A.F. 569639), No. 31 Operational Training Unit, Royal Canadian Air Force.’
Leslie S. Rockey was confirmed Flying Officer (Technical Branch) from probationary Pilot Officer, on 20 September 1944.
An article in the Westminster news, 30 August 1963 about Leslie Rockey, aged 43, then the LCC Youth Worker for Westminster and Chelsea, tells how at age 15 he joined the Royal Air Force as a an aircraft apprentice (circa 1935). Serving for 10 years, including 3 years in Canada and being discharged as a Flight Lieutenant. In the article he jokes about why he was awarded the B.E.M. but its clear it was for entertaining the troops.
Rockey is also mentioned in ‘Portrait of a bomber pilot’ as serving as groundcrew in 214 Squadron, which operated Wellington’s, Stirling’s and later Flying Fortress’s from the UK. Dates for this service and how he ended up working in entertaining the troops are as yet unknown.
Condition GVF, campaign medals mounted as worn, B.E.M. with its own pin mounting as issued.
An interesting Second War B.E.M. award.