Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Robert Kennedy is also remembered on the Langley School Honour Roll and the Metcalfe War Memorial, Vic.

......................

Brother: 1604 Pte Hugh KENNEDY, 4th Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, returned to Australia, 1 April 1919;

Brother: 322 Lt Thomas Henry KENNEDY, 38th Bn, killed in action, 15 April 1918;

Sister: Staff Nurse Jean KENNEDY, Australian Army Nursing Service, returned to Australia, 4 January 1919.

Taken from the Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918) Wed 16 May 1917 Page 3 DIED FROM ILLNESS.

LATE Q.M.S. JAMES R. KENNEDY.

Mrs. J. Kennedy, of Hodgkinson-street, has received the following letter in reference to the death from pneumonia of her son, Q.M.S. James R. Kennedy, on 26th February:—

"Officers' Training School, Tidworth Barracks, Salisbury Plain, Sunday, 4/2/17.

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,—After an absence of about three weeks from Larkhill, I to-day visited the camp for a few hours, and was shocked to hear that your son Jim had passed away during the week as a result of pneumonia. I hope that you will not regard as an intrusion upon your grief my expression of deepest sympathy for you in what must be a very bitter experience. Jim, as Q.M.S., was in constant intercourse with me, both during his stay at Royal Park and while on the voyage, and I can truth- fully say had endeared himself to us all by his quiet capableness and his constant thought for the comfort of the men. We all knew him for a straightforward, clean- living man, who by his manner of life set an example to younger and more unstable characters. All ranks in our unit realise that we have suffered a great loss. At a time like this, when so many have offered themselves for their country's service, it may be some consolation to those whose dear one has made the supreme sacrifice to know that he played his part as a man in the very best sense of the word. Again expressing our deep sympathy with you and yours in your great loss.—I am, very sincerely,

A. Wilcock, Lieut.'

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 26th February…… James Robert Kennedy was born in 1881 at “Fossway” Greenhill, Kyneton, Victoria.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 30th August, 1916 as a 35 year old, single, Farmer from East Metcalfe, Victoria. James Kennedy had previously served with 5th Victorian Contingent - Africa
Private James Robert Kennedy, Service Number 6327, embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Hororata (A20) on 23rd November, 1916 with the 6th Infantry Brigade, 24th Infantry Battalion, 18th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 29th January, 1917. According to a letter from Base Records to Mrs J. Kennedy, “Private J. R. Kennedy held the rank of “Acting Sergeant” for the voyage only and reverted back to “Private” on disembarkation – which rank he held up to date of death.”

On 31st January, 1917 Private Kennedy was marched in to 6th Training Battalion at Larkhill, Wiltshire from Australia.

He was sent sick to Fargo Military Hospital from 6th Training Battalion, Larkhill, Wiltshire on 1st February, 1917 & admitted the same day with Bronchitis.
(Note: His Records still recorded his rank as “Q.M.S.” – Quartermaster Sergeant, or “Acting Sergeant”.)

Quartermaster Sergeant James Robert Kennedy died at 2.45 p.m. on 26th February, 1917 at Fargo Military Hospital, Wiltshire from Broncho Pneumonia.

He was buried in Durrington Cemetery, Wiltshire, England where 140 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/k---mc.html