S14911
KERR, Donald
| Service Number: | 4328 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Knightsbridge (Hazelwood Park), Adelaide, South Australia, 13 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Pulteney Grammar School, Glenelg Grammar School, St. Peter's College, University of Adelaide |
| Occupation: | Solicitor at W.& T. Pope Solicitors, Politician: Liberal Candidate for Adelaide (1927) |
| Died: | Accidental: Gas Poisoning and Loss of Blood (slit wrist) , Adelaide Hospital, South Australia, 30 January 1928, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Members of the Legal Profession & Students at Law WW1 Honour Board, Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Hackney St Peter's College Honour Board, Yankalilla District Roll of Honour WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 4328, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' |
|
| 11 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4328, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 26 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4328, 50th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 4328, 50th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Donald Kerr's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography
Donald Kerr, son of Rev. Donald Kerr, was educated at Pulteney Grammar School, followed by Glenelg Grammar School, St. Peter's College and the University of Adelaide. Whilst he was studying at St. Peter's College he won the McCulloch History Scholarship and in 1914 he graduated at the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Law. The graduated having gained several first classes and also winning the Stow Prize in 1914. He was engaged as working as a Law Clerk during his studies at Adelaide University serving first for W. H. Benham at Kapunda and then transferring to W. & T. Pope Solicitors in Adelaide.
He served as a stretcher bearer during the war, enlisting on the 3rd of August 1915 and been allocated to the 10th Battalion. He embarked with the Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion on the 11th of January 1916 on HMAT Borda (A30) at Outer Harbour. Once in Egypt, he was transferred to the 10th Battalion's sister Battalion: the 50th Battalion and served the rest of the war with them acting as a stretcher bearer.
He was wounded in action at Pozières on the 15th of August 1916 and invalid back to Australia where he arrived at on the 23rd March 1917. He was discharged from the AIF as medically unfit on the 7th of June, 1917 having served 1 year and 305 days.
Awarded: British War Medal (9215), Victory Medal (9151)
After the war he continued working as a solicitor, whilst continuing further study which lead to him graduating with a Doctor in Law in 1919. A published legal author he wrote two books with the first "The Law of the Australian Constitution" been published in 1925. His second work, "Australian Lands (Torrens) System" was published in 1927. In 1927 he was also a Liberal Candidate for Adelaide.
In late January 1928, Donald Kerr injured himself in the bathroom after trying to light the bathroom heater whilst with a razor in his hand. He fell and cut his wrist suffering loss of blood and gas poisoning. He was taken to hospital after been found, however, died at 6am on Monday the 30th of January 1928. His death was stated as accidental, however it is unknown if it was suicide.
A prolific writer Donald Kerr wrote many letters and stories concerning his war service whilst in the AIF and although non are published here it is recommended that the reader pick up a copy of 'Hurcombe's Hungery Half Hundred' which contain nearly the full collection.
Nathan Rohrlach, 2014.
Click images to start slideshow.