KENNERLEY, Thomas Frederick
| Service Number: | 796 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, Bendigo, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive engine cleaner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 18 July 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Plot II, Row B, Grave No. 36 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 796, Bendigo, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 796, 7th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 796, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 796, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 796, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW left finger. | |
| 18 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 796, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
Thomas Frederick Kennerley was born in Carlton, Vic., the son of Frederick James (dec.) & Emma Sophia Kennerley, of Abbott St., Bendigo. Thomas Frederick was an Engine cleaner with the Victorian Railways, based at the Bendigo Loco. Sheds. He was 23 years old when he volunteered for service with the Expeditionary Force, and had previously served in the 8th A.I.R. He was amongst the early volunteers, enlisting on 18.8.14. The following day he left Bendigo for the Broadmeadows Camp. He was allotted Service no. 796 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion.
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.
The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915. Thomas Frederick Kennerley was Wounded during the Landing, sustaining a GSW to his left finger. He rejoined the 7th Battalion on 31/5/15. The following day (1/6/15) he wrote his Will.
On 3rd July, 1915, the Battalion moved into the trenches at Steele’s Post. Most days were spent repairing the trenches and sniping at the Enemy’s loopholes. The Battalion repaired the trenches during the night.
Thomas Frederick Kennerley was KIA 18/7/1915 whilst the battalion was at Steele’s Post. The 7th Bn War Diary reported on 18th July: “At 11.30 pm a burst of enemy machine gun & rifle fire resulted in casualties of 1 man killed and 1 man wounded.”
Thomas Frederick Kennerley was Buried in Shrapnel Gully, later known as Shrapnel Valley Cemetery.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone
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