Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

During his war service, Abner was Absent withouth Leave on numerous occasions. He was gassed in February 1918 and wounded in action in May 1918 with a gunshot wound to the leg (severe) and was  transferred to Harefield England. He was again AWL 23.8.1918 and apprended at London 11.9.1918 and was charged with forfeiture of 77 days pay.

He returned to Australia 25 December 1918 per 'Port Lyttleton' and was discharged 23 December 1919.

March 1920 - Abner Love Kelynack was sentenced to two months' imprisonment for the larceny of an overcoat, revolver and 150 cartridges, valued at £4, the property of Norman Sydney  Gillately. The fact that accused was a sub-tenant of the informant's, and is in the habit of receiving visitors, led to his arrest, and conviction.

PRESUMED DEAD
Returned Soldier's Disappearance
MELBOURNE, Thursday. 15 August 1935
Fourteen years ago Abner Love Kelynack, laborer, left his home at Chilwell, Geelong, and was never seen by his mother again. The only news which reached her came from Robert Osburn, of Goulburn, a former schoolmate of Kelynack, who had seen liim in Goulburn (N.S.W.) in 1928.
In the Supreme Court today Mr. Justice Mann gave the mother, Mrs. Frances Kelynack, widow, leave to administer her son's £130 estate on the presumption that he is dead.
Mrs. Kelynack said that as a result of war injuries her son was often ill, but he gave no reason for leaving home.

FORMER SOLDIER.
Disappears from Home.
Now Presumed to be Dead.
Application was made to Mr. Justice Mann in the Practice Court yesterday for a grant of letters of administration in the estate of Abner Love Kelynack, formerly of Russell-street, Chilwell, Geelong, on thd presumption that he is now dead. Mr. Basil Murphy (instructed by Mr. P. R. Fraser, of Geelong) appeared in support of the application.
Mrs. Frances Kelynack, the applicant and mother of the missing man, in her affidavit, said, her son enlisted in the A.I.F. in 1914 and returned from the war in December, 1918. As  a result of war injuries and being gassed, he was frequently ill and required medical attention. He was employed as a laborer at Geelong, and on one Friday night in May, 1921, he  came home from work, washed himself, had his tea and went out. This was the last occasion his mother saw him. When he left the house, Kelynack gave no indication that he did  not intend to return home. He had lived with his mother and other members of the family at Russell-street. Chilwell, and he was on the best of terms with them. Inquiries were  made for him from the police, and advertisements were inserted in newspapers in several States. These inquiries were continued for some years. The Repatriation department was appealed to, but they had not heard of Kelynack for a number of years, and he had not made any application to it for assistance, or medical aid.
An affidavit by Robert Osburn, of Lansdowne-bridge, Goulburn, N.S.W., stated that he had known Kelynack all his life, they having been associated in sport and in other ways,  when they resided at Geelong. While Osburn was employed at Wanganella Estate, Deniliquin in August, 1928, Kelynack called at the estate. In the course of conversation Kelynack said he had been knock, ing about Denillquin, Hay, Moulamein and Jerilderie for some time. He did not seen Kelynack again, nor had he heard of him afterwards.
The police at Denillquin were communicated with, but they could not give any information about Kelynack. Further advertisements had been published and inquiries made, but no  trace of Kelynack could be discovered. The only property Kelynack was known to possess was a war gratuity bond which was now valued at about £134.
His Honor granted the application on the presumption that Kelynack was now dead, and that he died intestate and unmarried. Leave was also given to distri bute the estate on this footing.

Missing presumed dead by Mr Justice Mann, Supreme Court of Victoria August 15, 1935