Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Herbert & Florence Kerr settled in Wooroolin in March 1922 and four of their children were now enrolled at Wooroolin School - Herbert known as Bert, Earle, Robert known as Harry and Catherine known as Kate. Enid, then was just two years old, and another two children Joyce & Leonard were born in the next few years. Herbert Kerr worked a farm, Por 160v, known as ‘Woodbine’.
World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Five of the children of Herbert & Florence participated in the war effort. Bert was called into Australian Army on 29 May 1941, Catherine’s Husband Walter Kidd served in the Nanango VDC, Earle served in the Monto VDC, Harry enlisted in the Australian Airforce in 1940 and Joyces’ husband Gordon Taggart served in the Stanthorpe VDC. Young Leonard was just 13 years old when WWII started so would have been working on the farm with his dad most likely. Enid was at home during the war and involved in Mission work throughout her life.
Herbert Wesley Kerr, known as Bert, enlisted in the Australian Army Kingaroy on 29 May 1941 and discharged on 10 Sep 1942. His records show he was a farmer at Kunioon near Nanango. His Army records are available on the NAA website and state: On the recommendation of the Deputy Director General of Manpower (Q), approval is given for the release from military service and return to the area of the abovenamed who is required for employment in a reserved occupation as a farmer. Bert returned to the home farm at Wooroolin until after the war, and by 1949, he was living back at Kunioon. Bert married Norah Bloomfield at the Baptist Chapel at Wynnum and they raised their four children at Kunioon. In 1965, at the age of 53 Bert died and buried in Taabinga Cemetery)
Robert Henry Kerr, known as Harry. He had worked at the Wooroolin Post Office for 3 years as a switchboard attendant plus four ½ years as a truck driver for Alf Stumer. He also worked for Len Ham as a driver for 12 months before he joined the Airforce. Len wrote a reference for Harry which is in his Service file. June Stebhens wrote a note on the Kinga~All FB group remembering that Harry also worked for her Uncle Len Townsen as a farm hand. Also, he had inherited his father’s ability to tell a good yarn – a bit stretched at times.
Harry applied to join the Royal Australian Airforce on 7 Jan 1940 when he was 24 years old. His service records are available on the NAA website and show he was a Truck Driver when he joined the Airforce and started his training at Laverton, Vic
After the completion of his training, Harry was sent to UK and arrived in Sep 1941. His service record show that Harry was an Aircraft Hand Rigger and promoted to Corporal during his service. In 1945 Harry married Henrietta (Hett) Eden near Chichester, Sussex. He returned to Australia in Oct 1945 and discharged from the air force in Feb 1946 just in time to meet his War Bride who arrived in Brisbane in Feb 1946. Harry and Hett raised their three children, David, Ian, and Joan on the Wooroolin farm after purchasing it from his father in 1951.
In 1964 Harry and his family sold the farm and moved to the Ord River district in Western Australia to grow cotton. Bill & Les Fiedler transported their farm equipment by truck to WA.
Harry did not get to enjoy his new life in WA for long as he died in 1975, aged sixty, and is buried at Mt Gravatt War Cemetery.
Lest We Forget