32001
KAVANAGH, Charles
| Service Number: | 5365 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wirrabara, South Australia, Australia, 15 August 1884 |
| Home Town: | Wirrabara, Mount Remarkable, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Daw Park, South Australia, Australia, 27 June 1965, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia General, Row F, Site Number 41 |
| Memorials: | Wirrabara District WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 5365, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 5365, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide |
Help us honour Charles Kavanagh's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Trevor Pyatt
Charles Kavanagh
Private | 27th Battalion, A.I.F. | WW1 Veteran
Born: 15 August 1884 – Wirrabara, District of Frome, South Australia
(South Australian BDM Ref: 334/272)
Died: 27 June 1965 – Daw Park Hospital, South Australia
Residence at death: Payneham, South Australia
Burial / Cremation: Cremated, ashes interred 7 July 1965
Cemetery: Enfield Memorial Park, Clearview, SA
Location: General Section, Row F, Site 41
Disposition: Cremated
Parents
Charles Kavanagh was the son of:
Edward Kavanagh (c.1847–1933)
Died 18 July 1933, Wirrabara
Buried Wirrabara Cemetery, Plot 30
Nancy Elizabeth Crew (1859–1915)
Born 31 May 1859, Clare, SA
Died 1 January 1915, Wirrabara
Buried Wirrabara Cemetery, Plot 30
Headstone inscription:
In Sacred and Loving Memory of Nancy Elizabeth beloved wife of Edward Kavanagh, who departed this life January 1st 1915, Aged 55 years. He giveth his beloved sleep. R.I.P.
In Loving Memory of Edward Kavanagh beloved husband of above died 18th July 1933, Aged 85 years. R.I.P.
Marriage
Charles married: Elsa Louisa Richardson
Born 1 January 1892 – Southwark, SA
Died 1 October 1948 – Booleroo Centre District
Buried Enfield Memorial Park, Clearview, SA
with Charles at Row F, Site 41.
Marriage:
8 April 1916 – Baptist Church, Southwark, SA
Groom aged 31, bride aged 24
Father of groom: Edward Kavanagh
Father of bride: John Sutton Richardson
(BDM SA ref: 267/54)
Children
Nancy Leonora Kavanagh (1917–2001)
Born Southwark, SA
Vernon Charles Kavanagh (1919–2008)
Born Mile End, SA
Allan John Kavanagh (1925–1993)
Born Laura, SA
Edward Leon Kavanagh (1927–2002)
Born Laura, SA
Military Service – First World War
Name: Charles Kavanagh
Regimental Number: 5365
Rank: Private
Unit: 27th Battalion, 14th Reinforcements
Religion: Roman Catholic
Occupation: Blacksmith
Address at enlistment: Wirrabara, South Australia
Next of Kin: Wife – Mrs Elsa Louisa Kavanagh, 4 Holland Street, Southwark, SA
Enlistment & Embarkation
Charles enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on:
7 February 1916 – Adelaide, South Australia
Age on enlistment: 31 years, 6 months
He embarked for overseas service from Adelaide:
12 August 1916 aboard HMAT A70 Ballarat
14th Reinforcements, 27th Battalion
He disembarked in England on:
30 September 1916 – Plymouth
Active Service (France & England)
Charles served on the Western Front and later in England. His service was heavily affected by a long-term knee injury.
Key details drawn directly from his AIF service records:
19 November 1916 – Proceeded from England to France
December 1916 – Admitted to hospital at Étaples
4 March 1917 – Admitted to hospital (France), diagnosed with old synovitis of the right knee
Throughout March–April 1917 – Multiple hospital admissions and transfers in France
18 June 1917 – Invalided to England due to knee condition
19 June 1917 – Disembarked at Southampton
16 July 1917 – Detached for duty with AIF Depots and School of Instruction, Tidworth, England
Army medical boards ruled his knee condition to be due to active service.
Return and Discharge
Returned to Australia aboard RMS Ulysses
Date of return: 22 July 1919
Discharged from AIF: 16 October 1919
Medals Awarded
Charles was awarded:
1914–15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial
Charles Kavanagh is commemorated on the: Wirrabara District World War I Roll of Honour
Biography by Trevor Pyatt 26/11/2025