KENT, William Henry
| Service Number: | 3688 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 June 1915, Perth, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Beachport, South Australia, 27 April 1878 |
| Home Town: | Geraldton, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Millicent |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Pozieres, France, 23 July 1916, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Geraldton Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Honour Roll, Geraldton District Great War Honour Roll, Millicent War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3688, 11th Infantry Battalion, Perth, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3688, 11th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 22 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3688, 11th Infantry Battalion, RMS Mongolia, Fremantle | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3688, 11th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
Help us honour William Henry Kent's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From In Search of Charles Albert Stokes DCM
William Henry Kent originally from Millicent South Australia, a carpenter, enlisted in June 1915 in Western Australia. It is stated that he was from Geraldton, but his attestation papers record a next of kin address of his wife at Stirling Street Perth.
He was attached to 11th Battalion, embarking in November 1915 aboard RMS Mongolia where he was assigned the rank of Sergeant in November 1915. He reverted to the rank of private in March 1916. His battalion arrived in France in April 1916 where it was sent to the front line of the Western Front in preparation for the Australian assault on the village of Pozieres, commencing on 19th July 1916.
It was on this date that Private William Kent was sent forward with his battalion to an area known as Black Watch Alley, adjacent to the village of Pozieres. The British had attempted to take this village on the 1st July 1916 but some 3 weeks later it was still in German hands.
On the night of 23rd July 1916, 11th Battalion along with 4th, 3rd and 12th battalions had moved into position to commence an assault. Private Williams was in in A Company and along with D company were leading the charge towards Pozieres. 50 minutes before the attack the lead companies had crawled out into no mans land only 60 yards from the German trenches remaining undetected.
The attacked commenced where a German machine gun was captured, which had been causing many casualties. Reaching their second objective the attack began to falter as they were subject to heavy artillery. It is understood they did cross the Albert to Bapaume road, entering the village in which the battalion suffered a high casualty rate chasing the Germans throughout the rubble of Pozieres.
The battle of Pozieres continued for many weeks, but it was in this time on 23rd July 1916 that Private William Henry Kent lost his life. It is recorded that he died of wounds, however he has no known grave.
Private William Kent's body remains on the battlefield of Pozieres along with so many other Australian soldiers who were involved in the Battle for Pozieres.
He has not been forgotten.
Biography
"LATE SGT. W. H. KENT.
Sgt. W. H. Kent, who was killed in action in France between July 22 and 26, was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Kent, of Millicent. He enlisted in Western Australia. He has left a widow and three children in Perth. Another brother, Lce.-Cpl. E. J. Kent, is at the front." - from the Adelaide Observer 07 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)
Son of George and Mary KENT
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