Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Jim was  one of seven children of Margaret (nee Moorehead) and Charles George Kebby (Postmaster at Eden from 1881 to 1907. His mother died in 1905 and he spent a lot of time at "Moorlands" which was her parents property at Bega where he learnt to be an expert horseman. Jim spent a term at Glen Innes Experimental Farm and then worked at the Sydney Fruit Exchange in 1912.

When he enlisted at the age of 22 he was single with a variety of occupations- traveller, agricultural student, orchardist and stockman.

He travelled to Egypt on the HMAT39 Port Macquarie. When his unit was transferred to Kaba Tepe in Turkey, he received a slight shrapnel wound to his scalp on 3rd May 1915. He was at Gallipoli on the 26th June 1915 with the 1st Aust Light Horse. 

While still at Gallipoli on the 5th August 1915 Jim received a gunshot wound to his abdomen which perforated his spleen and became dangerously ill.He was transferred to 3  different hospital before being returned to Australia and Randwick Hospital in Sydney where he was now in a serious condition. He had already had two operations but the bullet still had not been removed. Unfortunately by this time he was "merely skin and bone" the wound had become infected and he had Malaria and having fits "of unknown origin". He died on 20th March 1916 and his death certificate states "gunshot wound and heart failure".

He was given a military funeral with a gun carriage, firing party from B Company of the 4th Battalion and three volleys were fired over the grave while The Last Post was played by 2 buglers.

Many of his family on both his parents sides of the family still live in Eden.  He is remembered on the Eden Cenotaph.

"A GALLIPOLI HERO.   Trooper Kebby's Death In Sydney.

The death occurred at No. 4 General Hospital Randwick (Sydney), of Trooper J. C. Kebby, of the 7th Light Horse. Trooper Kebby took part in the fighting at the Dardanelles, and was first wounded while he was a driver in the Army Service Corps. On returning to the front volunteers were called for for the Light Horse, and Trooper Kebby offered his services. It was while his troops was in action in the trenches that he received the bullet in the spine that has at last proved fatal. Trooper Keb, as he was termed, was be- loved by all for his bigness of heart and calm, placid disposition, especially at the hospital, where he bore five months of great suffering without complaining. He spent the greater part of his life at Eden, on the South Coast, where the family is well known. He was the second son of Mr. C. Kebby, of Tamworth, who has two other sons joining the colors. The body was interred at Rookwood yesterday with full military honors." - from the Sydney Farmer and Settler 24 Mar 1916 (nla.gov.au)

"FUNERAL OF TROOPER KEBBY.  Full Military Honors Accorded.

SYDNEY, Wednesday. A full military funeral was accorded the late Trooper J. C. Kebby, at Waverley to-day. The coffin was carried to the gun carriage upon which it was borne to the cemetery by members of the Returned Soldiers' Association, who had fought beside their dead comrade at Gallipoli. A large body of men from the Returned Soldiers' Association followed the gun carriage with its wreath covered burden lying upon the Union Jack, and after them came members of the Army Service Corps. Wreaths were sent by the officers and men of the Light Horse at Liverpool, by the Returned Soldiers' Association, employees of F. Chilton, and relatives of the deceased. The graveside ceremony at Waverley was concluded by three volleys fired over the grave and the sounding of the Last Post, by two buglers." - from the Tamworth Daily Observer 23 Mar 1916 (nla.gov.au)