William Patrick KETT

KETT, William Patrick

Service Number: 797
Enlisted: 10 September 1914, Enlisted at Helena Bay, WA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 11th Infantry Battalion
Born: York, Western Australia, Australia, 16 March 1891
Home Town: York, York, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Pneumonia, Egypt, 14 September 1915, aged 24 years
Cemetery: Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery
Row F, Grave 131, Chatby Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, York District Great War Honour Board, York War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

10 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 797, Enlisted at Helena Bay, WA
2 Nov 1914: Involvement Private, 797, 11th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: ''
2 Nov 1914: Embarked Private, 797, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Fremantle

Dedication by A.O’Grady

Private William Patrick Kett was born in 1894, one of two sons and six daughters in the family of Henry and Bridget Kett who lived in York and later at Kurrawang near Kalgoorlie.

Educated at York and Kalgoorlie, William then worked as a labourer, and prior to enlistment as a steward at the City club in Kalgoorlie. He also served in a militia light horse regiment in York.

William enlisted in the AIF in August 1914 and after initial training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp his unit, 11 Battalion embarked on HMAT Ascanius from Fremantle on 31 October, joining the ANZAC convoy from Albany on 2 November 1914.

They arrived in Egypt in December. After further training, 11 Battalion was embarked for Lemnos Island and then, on 25 April 1915, was one of the first units ashore at Gallipoli.

By June 1915, William was acting as stretcher bearer and later was one of many soldiers becoming ill with influenza. He was evacuated from Gallipoli on 6 September and within days admitted to hospital in Egypt seriously ill with pneumonia.

Private William Patrick Kett of 11 Battalion, service number 797, died of illness on 14 September 1915 at 15 General Hospital Alexandria, Egypt.

He is buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt.

His plaque is placed alongside his best mate, both before enlistment and during their service, Private Ernest William McGlinn, of 11 Battalion.

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of H. Kett of Karrawang, Western Australia

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Biography contributed by Garret Greenham

Private William Patrick Kett was born in 1894, one of two sons and six daughters in the family of Henry and Bridget Kett who lived in York and later at Kurrawang near Kalgoorlie.

Educated at York and Kalgoorlie, William then worked as a labourer, and prior to enlistment as a steward at the City club in Kalgoorlie. He also served in a militia light horse regiment in York.

William enlisted in the AIF in August 1914 and after initial training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp his unit, 11 Battalion embarked on HMAT Ascanius from Fremantle on 31 October, joining the ANZAC convoy from Albany on 2 November 1914.

They arrived in Egypt in December.  After further training, 11 Battalion was embarked for Lemnos Island and then, on 25 April 1915, was one of the first units ashore at Gallipoli.

By June 1915, William was acting as stretcher bearer and later was one of many soldiers becoming ill with influenza. He was evacuated from Gallipoli on 6 September and within days admitted to hospital in Egypt seriously ill with pneumonia.

Private William Patrick Kett of 11 Battalion, service number 797, died of illness on 14 September 1915 at 15 General Hospital Alexandria, Egypt.

He is buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt.

His plaque is placed alongside his best mate, both before enlistment and during their service, Private Ernest William McGlinn, of 11 Battalion.

Read more...