Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From How We Served
 
The final resting place for; - 683, V80479 & V91629 Private David Henry Kinniburgh of Nicholls Point, Mildura, Victoria who had been employed as a labourer prior to his enlistment for War Service on the 19th of August 1914.

David was allocated to the 8th Battalion 1st AIF and was embarked for Egypt and further training with the First Australian Contingent, departing Australia on the 19th of October. David was with his Battalion when it was committed to the Dardanelles campaign and was present for the landing on Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915, and came through the first days of the fighting unscathed.

With his Battalion, David was sent to Cape Helles to participate in the capturing of Turkish positions at Krithia on the 8th of May, and during this he received a gunshot wound to his foot. Evacuated back to Egypt for hospitalisation, David was deemed fit enough to be returned to the trenches of Gallipoli, and arrived back to join his Unit by the last week of June.

David’s service would be continuous until he was evacuated sick on the 29th of August, and was sent back to Mudros Island, and from there to Malta vide Imbros Island, for further hospital care, having been diagnosed as suffering from bronchitis and debility. As there was no improvement in his health, David was shipped to England for further treatment, being admitted into hospital in London by the end of September.

David would remain in England over the course of 1916, being released from hospital for convalescence care, and once deemed fit enough for further duties, he would spend months attached to the 2nd Australian Overseas Training Battalion at Tidworth and later Bulford. David would be evacuated sick in early August, due to rheumatism, but was returned to duty within weeks of being admitted.

Embarked for France to re-join his Battalion on the 14th of December 1916, and after time spent at the ‘Bull Ring’ at Etaples for further training, David was taken back on strength with his Unit in the trenches on the 18th of January 1917.

David’s service would be continuous until he suffered a knee injury whilst on duty, and was again sent back to England for hospitalization, arriving on the 16th of March. David was cited as no longer fit for service in the trenches and began his repatriation back to Australia as an Invalid, departing England on the 24th of September.

Following his arrival back in Victoria, he received his official discharge from the 1st AIF to re-enter civilian life on the 14th of December 1917.

With the start of a second World War, David again presented himself for service with the Australian Military Forces, enlisting on the 2nd of October 1939, David was accepted for Home Service and was posted to the 12th Garrison Battalion, but was discharged as medically unfit on the 20th of November 1940.

Not deterred, David again reenlisted with the Australian Military Forces on the 6th of January 1941, and was again accepted for Home Service. David was posted to the 3rd Garrison Battalion, before being transferred to the 2nd Training Battalion on the 12th of August 1942.

David was still serving with this Unit when his death occurred due to illness on the 31st of October 1942. He had been aged 54.

Following his passing, Private David Kinniburgh, a veteran of two World Wars, was formally laid to rest within Springvale War Cemetery, Victoria.

Son of David and Elizabeth Kinniburgh; husband of Ruby Florence Kinniburgh, of Mildura