Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Cormac John Kenny, known as Jack, was born on 21st May 1893 at Drayton QLD, the 2nd eldest son and child of 9 children born to his parents Patrick and Mary Kenny.  His older brother was Percy and his younger brothers were Owen, Norman, Stephen (born 1900 and died 1901), Francis (born and died 1905) and Bryan.  His younger sisters were Stella and Patricia.  After completing his education at the Christian Brothers’ School in Toowoomba he worked as a motor mechanic.  Prior to WW1 he served with the 24th Army Medical Corps and held the rank of Sergeant. 

On 8th May 1915 Jack enlisted for WW1 at Enoggera QLD aged 22.  He’s described as being 5ft 8ins tall with a fair complexion, brown eyes and light brown hair.  His service number was 3864, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance 1st Reinforcements A section.  After completing his initial training at Enoggera Camp QLD he embarked from Brisbane on HMAT Medic on 2nd June 1915 then re-embarked from Adelaide SA 3 weeks later on HMAT Borda.  He disembarked at Suez on 25th July 1915 and proceeded to the Light Horse Camp at Heliopolis outside Cairo. 

In late August 1915, thirty nine of the 1st Reinforcements were absorbed into the 11th Light Horse Regiment which proceeded to Gallipoli.  The remainder moved to Gabbari Camp at Alexandria.  His service record doesn’t mention him having served at Gallipoli so it would seem that he went to Gabbari Camp. 

On 7th March 1916 Jack transferred to the 3rd Field Ambulance at Tel-el-Kebir Camp where he joined his younger brother Owen who had enlisted on 22nd August 1914 and took part in the landings at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915.  He remained there for the whole campaign. 

Jack embarked for France from Alexandria on 27th March 1916 on HMT Kingstonian and disembarked at Marseilles on 3rd April.  Jack and Owen participated in the Battle of Pozieres from 23rd July to 3rd September 1916 then on 11th November 1916 while the unit was serving at the 1st Anzac Rest Station at Buire, the camp was bombed and Owen sustained a shrapnel wound to the chest.  The following is an extract the unit diary: “At 00.40 this morning an enemy aeroplane flying low, dropped 6 bombs on the 1st Anzac Rest Station.  Five patients were killed outright, thirty three wounded more or less seriously and three slightly.  Of the personnel at this station one was killed, four seriously wounded and one slightly wounded.  All of these belonged to No. 3 Australian Field Ambulance.  One bomb was dropped on the Orderly Room, destroying a number of the records of the station and of the unit.  Damage was done to four marquee tents and eight bell tents.  The distinguishing lamps were burning brightly at the time the attack was made.” 

Owen recovered and returned to duty being mentioned in despatches in 1918 and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1919 after his return to Australia. 

On 23rd December 1916 Jack transferred to the 1st Division Supply Column as a Driver and in late March 1917 was detached for duty to “K” Supply Column.  A month later he proceeded to England to the Royal Flying Corps Depot at Perham Downs Camp on the Salisbury Plain.  He transferred to the newly formed No. 6 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), also known as 30th Squadron RFC.  He was promoted to 2nd Air Mechanic and proceeded to Parkhouse Camp and then to Shawbury Aerodrome in mid-June 1917.  Two weeks later the Squadron moved to Tern Hill Aerodrome at Shropshire.  In mid-July 1917 Jack proceeded to the Central Flying School at Upavon Aerodrome at Wiltshire and re-joined his Squadron a month later at Tern Hill.  He was promoted to 1st Air Mechanic on 1st October 1917 and 2 months later was promoted to Corporal. 

The Squadron moved to Minchinhampton Aerodrome at Gloucestershire in late February 1918.  In late March 1918 Jack was admitted to Beaufort War Hospital at Bristol with appendicitis then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital (3AAH) at Dartford in mid-May 1918.  Upon discharge he proceeded to Hurdcott Camp on the Salisbury Plain and was promoted to Corporal Mechanic.  In early July 1918 he was appointed as Acting Sergeant then proceeded to South Farnborough Aerodrome at Hampshire in late August 1918.  He was promoted to Sergeant Mechanic on 1st October 1918.

Jack was admitted to the AFC Hospital at Tetbury Gloucestershire in late January 1919 with influenza.  Upon discharge 4 days later he re-joined No. 6 Training Squadron at Minchinhampton.  On 6th May 1919 Jack embarked from England for return to Australia on SS Kaiser-I-Hind.  He disembarked at Sydney on 19th June 1919 and was discharged from the service on 19th August 1919. 

On 13th April 1925 Jack married Eileen Quinlan, known as Queenie, and they settled at Coorparoo in Brisbane QLD.  Jack worked as a mechanic for Austral Motors and in 1926 they welcomed a son, Brian. 

Jack passed away at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane on 30th August 1926 from blood poisoning.  He was 33.  He was buried at the South Brisbane Cemetery QLD.   Sadly, his son died in 1931 aged 4. 

Jack is commemorated on the Toowoomba Roll of Honour WW1. 

After the war Jack’s father received a Memorial Scroll, Plaque and Royal Letter from the King, which was presented to the next of kin of those who died while serving in the Australian Imperial Force in WW1, acknowledging his service and their loss.         

Cormac John Kenny was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 24th July 2023.