O'LEARY, Kenneth John Wharton
| Service Number: | NX35892 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/3rd Anti Tank / Tank Attack Regiment |
| Born: | Leeton, New South Wales, Australia, 30 December 1917 |
| Home Town: | Leeton, Leeton, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | boxmaker |
| Died: | Yaralla Military Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia, 27 July 1951, aged 33 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Leeton General Cemetery, NSW Church of England, Sub section 4, Row C, Grave 5 |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 27 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX35892 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov 1940: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Gunner, 2nd/3rd Anti Tank / Tank Attack Regiment, embarked Sydney, disembarked Haifa, Israel | |
| 27 Jul 1942: | Imprisoned Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre, reported missing in action believed POW 27 Apr 1942; officially reported POW 30 Sep 1942; interned various camps | |
| 17 May 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX35892 |
Help us honour Kenneth John Wharton O'Leary's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cherilyn McMeekin
Kenneth, known as Ken, was the only son of Henry (Harry) and Ada O'LEARY of Leeton, NSW.
Ken enlisted in Wagga Wagga in June 1940. He served with the 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment and was captured in Libya in October 1942. He was a POW in Italy, where he was given the position of cook. When the Allies landed in Italy he enjoyed freedom for a time before being sent to Germany, where he remained until the end of hostilities. He returned to Australia from England in July 1945 (see Obituary, NLA Trove).
Ken did not marry. He died at Yaralla Military Hospital in Concord NSW aged only 33. He was buried in his hometown.