KENNY, Francis Leslie
| Service Number: | 3512 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, 11 December 1894 |
| Home Town: | West Maitland, Maitland, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Brain aneurysm in the area of a wound, West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, 7 March 1938, aged 43 years |
| Cemetery: |
Campbell's Hill (West Maitland) Cemetery Campbell's Hill (Catholic) Cemetery, Telarah, New South Wales. Sect A2, Row 40. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement Private, 3512, 55th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked Private, 3512, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell
Served and suffered during The Great War, not forgotten.
83 years ago today, on the Tuesday afternoon of the 8th March 1938, Private Francis Leslie Kenny, 55th Battalion (Reg No-3512), labourer from Bourke Street, West Maitland, New South Wales and Fassifern, N.S.W.?, was laid to rest with a military funeral at Campbell's Hill (Catholic) Cemetery, Telarah, New South Wales. Sect A2, Row 40.
Born at West Maitland, New South Wales on the 11th December 1894 to James Francis and Matilda Kenny, Francis enlisted November 1916 at Rutherford, N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 26.9.1917 (GSW shoulder, right arm, fracture, severe, The Battle of Polygon Wood - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122827801), Francis returned home June 1918, being discharged medically unfit on the 30th November 1918.
Mr Kenny’s name has been inscribed on the Maitland & District Municipal Roll of Honor (photo, 697 names inscribed).
The tragic circumstances of his death was reported.
Report states found dead in Elgin Street, West Maitland.
Many thanks to Mr Kenny's Great Uncle Graeme Bischoff for the notification and the following family history.
Great Uncle 3512 Pte. Francis Leslie Kenny who was severely wounded at Polygon Wood now lies in an unmarked grave (with his mother and sister, my Nan, who do have headstones) in the RC Cemetery in Telarah. Dad would tell me stories of his Uncle Frank with his crippled, useless and disfigured arm. From what I can gather it was a sad and alcohol riddle life which ended in 1936 with an aneurysm in the area of the wound. I grew up near that cemetery and never knew he was buried there until I started to do some research into him and Mum's brother who is interred at Bomana PNG.
We will be placing a cross at Mr Kenny’s unmarked grave to honour his service and sacrifice for God, King and Country.
Service record states Died after Discharge, 7.3.1938.
Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.