KERSHAW, Louis James
| Service Number: | 2938 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 April 1916, Perth, WA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Wagin, WA, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Wedgecarrup School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Accidentally shot while rabbit shooting, near Lake Grace, WA, 26 February 1923 |
| Cemetery: |
Wagin Cemetery, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Wagin Roll of Honor, Wedgecarrup School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2938, 10th Light Horse Regiment, Perth, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2938, 10th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: RMS Mooltan embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2938, 10th Light Horse Regiment, RMS Mooltan, Fremantle |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
SHOOTING FATALITY
Returned Soldier's Sad End
A very sad shooting fatality occurred near Lake Grace on Monday evening when a returned soldier named Louis James Kershaw, son of Mr. and. Mrs. Ernest Kershaw, of Wedgecarrup, who are old residents of the Wagin district, accidentally shot himself while rabbit shooting.
The funeral took place on Thursday, the pall-bearers being all returned men. The late Driver Kershaw served right through the great war with the 10 th Light Horse, and returned unwounded. He was only 29 years of age.
LOUIS J. KERSHAW THE
VICTIM.
Quite a gloom was cast over the town and district when it became known that Louis James Kershaw, a young man who did his share at the front, and was well and favorably known in the district (son of Mr and Mrs E. E. Kershaw, senior, of Wedgecarrup), had been fatally shot. The deceased had recently taken up land in the Lake Grace district. On Monday evening last he was at the camp in company with a mate. Expressing a desire to secure rabbits for tea, he went off with a double barrelled gun. The gun is of the hammerless type, with safety catch, requiring re-adjustment whenever used. The man at the camp heard one shot, and then another.
Mr Kershaw did not return to camp. His mate was not alarmed, as he had previously stated that he intended to visit his brother's camp, about one mile away, that night. He concluded that he had stayed to tea and remained all night. Next morning, however, as Mr Kershaw had not returned, the man hurried to the brother's camp to make enquiries. A search party was at once organised. At four o'clock in the afternoon the dead body of the missing man was found. The cause of the accident was plainly apparent. It would appear that the deceased had fired at and wounded a rabbit. He started to run for it, and the barrel of the gun became entangled in a bush, which threw Mr Kershaw to the ground. In his fall he fell on the gun, breaking the stock. The second charge then went off, penetrating the heart. Death must have been instantaneous. The death of Mr Kershaw in the prime of life is particularly sad. Out in the wilderness, carving a home for himself, the prospects were bright. His remains were laid to rest in the Methodist Cemetery on Thursday morning, a report of which will appear next issue. The greatest sympathy is felt for his sorrowing parents and relatives.
Louis was loved by all who knew him.
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