Len Reid

Leonard Stanley Reid, DFC (21 September 1916 – 22 April 2003) was an Australian fighter pilot and politician who represented the Liberal Party as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and the Australian House of Representatives.

Len Reid
Member of the Australian Parliament for Holt
In office 25 October 1969 – 2 December 1972
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Max Oldmeadow
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Dandenong
In office 31 May 1958 – September 1969
Preceded by	Ray Wiltshire
Succeeded by	Alan Lind
Personal details
Born	(1916-09-21)21 September 1916 Clifton Hill, Victoria
Died	22 April 2003(2003-04-22) (aged 86) Melbourne, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party
Spouse	Joan Swallow
Children	Roger and Virginia
Occupation	Fighter pilot, dairy farmer
Profession	BP petroleum company
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service	1940–1946 1948–1954
Rank	Flight Lieutenant
Commands	No. 79 Squadron RAAF
Battles/wars	Second World War European theatre Mediterranean and Middle East theatre Siege of Malta Pacific War
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Reid served as a fighter pilot in both the Royal Australian Air Force and on attachment to the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 4 December 1942.[1] After the war, he ran a dairy farm in Cranbourne, Victoria before being elected to the Electoral district of Dandenong at the 1958 Victorian state election. Reid served as the member for Dandenong for 11 years,[2] before resigning his seat to contest the newly created federal Division of Holt, which covered much of the same area as Dandenong, at the 1969 federal election.[3] Reid won narrowly, but was defeated at the 1972 federal election partly due to the swing that ousted the McMahon government and partly due to demographic changes which saw Dandenong develop as a major industrial centre.

Whilst a member of the lower House he crossed the floor and voted with the Labor Party or abstained from voting.[3]

Len Reid was avidly connected with people who were marginalised in society and actively concentrated on the poor in India and Bangladesh. His publications included Crusade against Death.[4] He played an important role with the charity "For Those Who Have Less".[5]

Reid married Joan Averill Swallow, daughter of Leonard Swallow and Dorothy Comyn in 1946.[3] She was the niece of Hugh Comyn and William Leslie Comyn. They had children Virginia and Roger.[3]