KEARNS, Victor Lionel
| Service Number: | 3782 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 October 1917, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Carrington, New South Wales , Australia, 5 August 1896 |
| Home Town: | Dulwich Hill, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Carrington, New South Wales , Australia, 12 April 1965, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW CATHOLIC 3-86. 8. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Oct 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3782, 7th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Ormonde embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 2 Mar 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3782, 7th Light Horse Regiment, SS Ormonde, Sydney | |
| 8 Nov 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
My Grandfather V.L. Kearns
Real Name- Victor Lionel Kearns,
Why he served under an assumed name is not known. Vic, was a senior cadet prior to enlisting- did he do a runner from senior cadets & subsequently enlist under the assumed name?
Vic served as a stretcher Bearer with the 7th LHR
His uncle who he was raised with was 2 years older then he and had already enlisted, he was Pte John Thomas Kearns MM of the 3rd Bn AIF.
My grandfather was from Little Young Street Carrington NSW and after the war lived his life at Rodgers St Carrington
Submitted 21 February 2015 by Ray Wooster
Biography
Enlisted and served under alias John Thomas KERR
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
59 years ago today, on the 12th April 1965, Private Victor Lionel Kearns, 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment (stretcher bearer, Reg No-3782), driver from New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill, New South Wales and 37 Rodgers Street, Carrington, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 68. CATHOLIC 3-86. 8.
Born at Carrington, New South Wales on the 5th August 1896 to John Joseph, died 24.4.1927, Wickham, N.S.W., age 76, buried at ANGLICAN 1-13. 35, of Young Street, Carrington, N.S.W., or Antone Samuel Christensen, died 29.7.1927, Newcastle, N.S.W., age 49, buried at ANGLICAN 1-9. 6, and Caroline Kearns, died 19.4.1900, Wickham, N.S.W., age 43, sleeping at ANGLICAN 1-13. 35, of Little Young Street, Carrington, N.S.W., or Ethel Florence Ross nee Kearns, died 8.6.1943, Wickham, N.S.W., age 63, sleeping at ANGLICAN 1-28. 132, of 8 Railway Street, Cooks Hill, N.S.W. (1918); husband of Ellen (Helen) Madeline Kearns nee Morrison (married 1922, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 18.1.1979, age 77, sleeping here), Vic enlisted on the 9th October 1917 as John Thomas Kerr at Sydney, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board RMS Ormonde on the 2nd March 1918.
Admitted to hospital 21.7.11918 (malaria).
Commenced return to Australia 28.6.1919.
Vic arrived home on the 3rd August 1919, being discharged on the 8th November 1919.
Nothing located on Trove regarding enlistment, returning home, etc.
Mr. Kearns’s name has been inscribed on the Hamilton (Gregson Park) War Memorial.
I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label at Vic’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
Not officially commemorated.
Many thanks to Ray Wooster for the notification, photos and family history - 2.8.2023.
My grandfather Victor Lionel Kearns of Carrington N.S.W., born 1896, died 1964, served under an assumed name, 3782 John Thomas KERR 7th Light Horse Regiment, 35th Reinforcement, Middle East, 8 Oct 1917 - * Nov 1919, he was a stretcher bearer.
Did he enlist under an assumed name due to “disappearing” from the senior cadet unit to join his mates at the front?, did he use the name John Thomas Kerr, after his uncle John Thomas Kearns MM who was 2 years older than he and was still serving with the 3rd BN AIF, or something more sinister?
My grandfather died when I was 7 years of age yet I remember him telling me of battles where the weapons were frozen, he told of carrying wounded to the boats on the beach, did he also serve under another assumed name, not uncommon during the early part of the war I’m advised? I clearly recall asking him of the dark scar on his cheek which he told was caused from phosphorous, (none of which is reflected in his service records).
The photo showing him in uniform pre and post deployment clearing demonstrates his “coming of age”.
Coincidentally, or subconsciously, I later (1977) joined the regular army where I served as a medic in the RAAMC for 15 years and after this period I uncovered my Grandfather's service records & that of his son uncle Vic (Lionel Victor Kearns), who served in the AAMC during WWII who was captured at the fall of Singapore & spent his time in Changi & with L Force on the Railroad, returning home & discharged in 1946.
Rest Diggers, your job is done.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.