Born in Walthamstow, his family moved to Sussex. In 1921 his occupation is recorded as experimental engineer. He appears to have put in planning applications to build various properties and garages in Hove in the 1920s along with his brother, Auxilier Reginald Lionel le Maitre.
In 1924 he came to the Isle of Wight and established as a reputable provider of amusements in Sandown. This allowed him to rent the Eastern Pleasure Gardens. After the war he ran 'The White City' arcade.
Adrian married Ethel Gibbon in Sussex in 1933 having met her at a dance in Brighton. They made the Island their permanent home in 1936.
During the war, he and Bill Rapkins were in partnership producing aircraft whines and related parts. They were involved in the production of Spitfires along with a number of others on the Isle of Wight. In 1942-42 he was President of Sandown Rotary Club.
He was a member of Sandown and Shanklin Council and became Chairman in 1947. Later he was a Justice of the Peace, serving 23 years. He was one of the founders of Sandown Business Association and was its President for a time. He also had a number of other roles in the community and as result was awarded an MBE in 1969.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandown Patrol | Patrol Corporal | 14 Aug 1941 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Amusement caterer
A First World War veteran, he served as an engineer with RAF until August 1919. He is recorded as 5ft 7 with light brown hair and hazel eyes.
In 1939 he was in the Observer Corps.
TNA ref WO199/3391,
1939 Register,
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1921 Census
Eastern Pleasure Gardens Sandown
Isle of Wight County Press, 25 Mar 1983