Kenneth Andrew MUDGE

Kenneth Andrew MUDGE Update Details

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MUDGE, Kenneth Andrew

Service Numbers:	552, 951
Enlisted:	1 December 1914, Oaklands, South Australia
Last Rank:	Trooper
Last Unit:	3 Battalion Imperial Camel Corps
Born:	Bowden, South Australia, 3 March 1896
Home Town:	Hindmarsh, Charles Sturt, South Australia
Schooling:	Brompton Public School, South Australia
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Killed in Action, Palestine, 19 April 1917, aged 21 years
Cemetery:	Jerusalem War Cemetery Buried by Chaplin C. Scott LITTLE at Sheik Abbass Ridge, El-Arish
Memorials:	Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cowell Men from Franklin Harbour WW1 Roll of Honour, Cowell War Memorial, Elbow Hill Methodist Church WW1 Honour Roll, Renown Park Brompton School Great War Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

1 Dec 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 552, 11th Light Horse Regiment, Oaklands, South Australia
2 Jun 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 552, 11th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: ''
2 Jun 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 552, 11th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Medic, Brisbane
16 Aug 1915:	Involvement Private, 951, 11th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: ''
16 Aug 1915:	Embarked Private, 951, 11th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane
17 Nov 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 552, 9th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli
22 Feb 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 11th Light Horse Regiment
19 Apr 1917:	Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 951, 3 Battalion Imperial Camel Corps, Battles of Gaza , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 951 awm_unit: 3 Battalion Imperial Camel Corps awm_rank: Trooper awm_died_date: 1917-04-19

Obituary

THE LATE PRIVATE K. A. MUDGE.
Mr. W. J. Mudge, of Tait-street, North Croydon, has been notified that his fourth
son. Private Kenneth A. Mudge, of the 3rd Camel Corps, was killed in action on
April 19. Private Mudge enlisted in 1914. He was educated at Brompton school, and was 21 years of age

Chronicle Saturday 26 May 1917 page 38

Submitted 6 February 2016 by Daryl Jones

Showing 1 of 1 story

Biography

Son of William James MUDGE nd Clara Amelia nee KLEI

Kenneth Andrew had to seek his father's permission to join the war effort.

Biography contributed by Cowell Area School

Kenneth Andrew Mudge attended the Brompton Public School and worked in the Franklin Harbour district as a labourer before enlisting at the age of 19 years. He spent time with the Light Horse from December 1914 to November 1916 including service at Gallipoli.

Private Mudge was disciplined for a number of offences during his service including ‘insolence to NCO’, ‘being disobedient to an order’, ‘being AWL’ and ‘Breaking out of camp when a defaulter’. He was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps in November 1916. The men of the Imperial Camel Corps had a rough reputation, largely because when the Corps was originally formed Australian battalion commanders had seized upon it as an opportunity to offload some of their more difficult characters. The men of the ICC were, however, resourceful and effective.

There was a gentler side to Private Mudge who pledged 3 shillings per day from his pay, to his sister, Mrs Clara Gertrude Bawden. He also kept in contact with his friend’s mother – Mrs Dunn, mother to Private Philip Dunn (also in the Camel Corps) of Elbow Hill. In a postcard to Mrs Dunn, Kenneth wrote:

Egypt 1916

Dear Mrs Dunn

No doubt it will surprise you to know I am in the Camel Corp now I am moving out to Phil’s company tonight. I have not seen Phil for several months now but a letter I received from him a few days ago left him in good health. Enclosed is a few snaps I have taken over here which I wish you to give to little Olive. I will try and send some more one of these days perhaps enough to make a small album out of. Give my best respects to all friends over that way,

Ken.

The Imperial Camel Corps was an integral part of the British and Dominion force that advanced north through Palestine in 1917 and 1918. It suffered particularly heavily during the Second Battle of Gaza on 19 April 1917.

Private Kenneth Andrew Mudge was Killed in Action on 19 April 1917 at Gaza, Palestine, Syria, with wounds (gunshot) being inflicted to the head. He was buried at Sheik Abbas Ridge – El Arish. Despite exhaustive investigation his grave couldn’t be found later by the Imperial War Grave Commission and his name was accordingly inscribed on the memorial to the Missing erected in the Jerusalem War Cemetery.

Reference List

World War 1 Biographies (Folder, located at Cowell RSL) Stocker, B.

National Archives of Australia – NameSearch

Trove – Chronicle (Adelaide, SA) Sat 26 May 1917 page 38 THE LATE PRIVATE K.A. MUDGE

Imperial Camel Corps – Australian War Memorial Website https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51065

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia