KENNEDY, Andrew Erle
| Service Number: | 20747 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 April 1935 |
| Last Rank: | Able Seaman |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 15 March 1916 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Brisbane Grammar School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 7 Apr 1935: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, 20747 | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr 1947: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, 20747 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Andrew Kennedy
Andrew was the son of Andrew Leslie (Les) Kennedy (7 December 1890 – 26 October 1960) and Dorothy Nora Henrietta Ward. They married at Toowong in 1915, and Andrew Erle was born 15 March 1916.
The following year Les took a contract in what was then the Federated Malay States as a surveyor. The location was not considered suitable for European ladies, so he settled his family in Singapore. The marriage failed and Andrew was brought back to Brisbane by his maternal aunt in 1918. He was then aged 2¼ years. He only had one subsequent meeting with his mother, during World War II.
Les returned to Brisbane and petitioned for a divorce in November 1918. It was not contested, as Dorothy was living with the third party, and a decree was made absolute in February 1919. It is doubtful that Andrew’s parents ever met again, and Dorothy's name was rarely mentioned. Andrew’s step-brother, Ian, only found out about their father’s previous marriage when he was thirteen.
Les was awarded the custody of Andrew, who spent the next three years living with Les’s sister, Hilda and brother-in-law, Budge Webb.
Andrew joined the Royal Australian Navy, enlisting 7 April 1935 (Service No, 20747). His home port was listed as Melbourne.
He served throughout World War 2 and was discharged 21 April 1947. During this time, he was listed as an Able Seaman.
At one stage he served on HMAS Stuart, an RAN destroyer that played a key role in Mediterranean operations, troop evacuations, and the Tobruk ferry service. HMAS Stuart had been a flotilla leader in the British navy in WW1 and was transferred to the RAN in 1933.It was recommissioned at the outbreak of WW2 to lead the Australian destroyer force, nicknamed the “Scrap Iron Flotilla” by German propagandists. It, and Andrw saw action at the Battle of Calabria and the sinking of the Italian submarine “Gondar” on 30 September 1940. Coincidentally, this is the date listed on Andrew’s service records as his final day on HMAS Stuart. He then seems to have returned to HMAS Cerberus RAN training base in Victoria, prior to transfer to HMAS Kanimbla (September 1941 – May 1943). Further entries on his service records are unreadable, although it is stated Andrew was serving on HMAS Lonsdale at the time of his discharge.
Andrew’s war service is commemorated on the Brisbane Grammar School WW2 honour board.
(Some details sourced from National Archives of Australia. Personal diaries held at Brisbane Grammar School.)