KENNY, William Thomas
| Service Number: | 4480 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 October 1915, Townsville, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cooktown, Queensland, Australia, 4 July 1894 |
| Home Town: | Irvinebank, Tablelands, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Irvinebank School |
| Occupation: | Prospector |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Pozières, France, 5 August 1916, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cairns Cenotaph, Herberton Methodist Circuit and Mission Area, Irvinebank Roll of Honor, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Townsville, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, 4480, 25th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 31 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, 4480, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of Victoria, Sydney | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4480, 25th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4480 awm_unit: 25 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-08-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of James and Rosina KENNY of Irvinebank, Qld.
"4480 Acting Corporal William Thomas Kenny, 25th Battalion from Irvinebank, Queensland. A 21 year old prospector prior to enlisting on 2 October 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 11th Reinforcements from Sydney on 31 March 1916 aboard HMAT Star of Victoria (A16). After further training in Egypt, he joined the 11th Battalion in France as a Private on 2 August 1916. Three days later, Pte Kenny was killed in action at Pozieres on 5 August 1916 and is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France with others who have no known grave." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
"THE SOLDIERS' POSTBAG. An Irvinebank Man's Letter.
Acting Q.M.S., W. T. Kenny, Irvinebank, writes from France as follows on the 21 st July.
Dear Dad, - Just a line to let you know that I am still well, and not having too bad a time. I have not left this camp yet, but I have tried two or three times to get away, but the officers only laugh at me, and say "Your all right, you can go up when I am going." As far as I can see, a fellow has a hard job to get out of the orderly room once he gets the run of things, as a new man takes a while to find out, what men are gone, and where they are gone to. Anyhow, I don't expect to have to stay here much longer. I received a letter from you a few weeks ago and I have also received a bundle or two of papers ("Heralds") and I can assure you, a bit of North Queensland news is appreciated, after a fellow is away over here for a while. This game is not bad for excitement and travel, and all that, but I think the old Australian Bush is the best place after all. A fellow has no need to bother about a pass when he wants to go out, and there is no bugle to wake him in the morning. I have posted you some of the papers from here, as they might interest you, so don't forget to let me know if you get them. Let me know how you have got on with the horses this year, and what sort of year you have had. If I am lucky, I ought to be home with you the following season. The Frenchmen and Tommies seem to think that old Fritz won't go into another winter campaign, but we fellows are like the Scotchman "Hae me douts." Anyhow, they are not getting much spare time to prepare for winter. If they had been let alone they would have had a grand winter. Some of the officers dug-outs that were captured, had carpets and a piano in them, so you see they meant to settle down. I don't like their chance of getting those dugouts back this winter. I was talking to some fellows last night from the North of Ireland, and they were saying they had a Corporal with them, that came from Cavan and knows the place very well. I am going to have a talk with him this evening, and I will let you know how I get on later. He is a fellow about 45, so you might know him." - from the Cairns Post 03 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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