KERR, James
| Service Number: | 6044 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 38th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Cranbourne, Casey, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 28 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert, Wallonie, Belgium Plot II, Row B, Grave No. 10 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6044, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 6044, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 6044, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 28 May 1917: | Involvement Private, 6044, 38th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 6044 awm_unit: 38th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-05-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Private James Kerr, was the son of Oliver James (died 1914) and Maria Kerr (died 1907) of Dandenong. He had been raised by a foster mother, Mrs. Amelia Kent, of Archies Creek, Victoria. She was sent his medals after stated she had been looking after James for over 16 years.
On 28 May 1917, the 38th Battalion undertook a major trench raid with 221 men near Ploegsteert Wood. The raid went well and a prisoner was captured, but the withdrawal turned into a disaster. Nearly half of the raiders were killed or wounded by an Australian artillery barrage landing in the midst of the withdrawing raiders. According to the battalion diary 30 men were killed and 65 wounded. James was one of the few who have a known grave.
James’s brother, 2486 Pte. Henry Kerr 60th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Fromelles 19 July, 1916. Age 23.