BANKS, Kenneth
| Service Number: | 58218 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 July 1918, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st to 8th (QLD) Reinforcements |
| Born: | Balmain, New South Wales, Australia, 17 December 1890 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Boys Central and Technical College, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Assayer |
| Died: | Died of Illness (Heart failure following Pneumonia), United Kingdom, 1 November 1918, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried at Sea, off Africa, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement Unspecified New Zealand Army Units, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 58218, Brisbane, Queensland | |
| 4 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 58218, 1st to 8th (QLD) Reinforcements, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Bakara embarkation_ship_number: A41 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Sep 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 58218, 1st to 8th (QLD) Reinforcements, HMAT Bakara, Sydney | |
| 17 Dec 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 58218, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 58218 awm_unit: 6th Australian Reinforcement awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-11-01 |
Help us honour Kenneth Banks's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 1st November……Kenneth Banks was born at Balmain, Sydney, NSW possibly in December 1891. His mother died in 1897 & his father died in 1898 – both in Queensland. Kenneth was raised by his aunt – Miss Laura Banks.
Kenneth Banks enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Greymouth, New Zealand on 12th December, 1914 (stating his date of birth as 17th December, 1887). He embarked on Transport No. 17 on 13th February, 1915 with New Zealand Army Service Corps & disembarked at Suez on 26th March, 1915.
On 6th July, 1915 Driver Banks was transferred back to Canterbury Infantry Battalion (he had been originally posted to C.I.B., in NZ) at Anzac Cove & was posted to 13th Company as Private.
He embarked from Dardanelles on 24th August, 1915 for England on Hospital Ship “Canada” & was admitted to No.1 London General Hospital at Camberwell, England on 9th September, 1915. He was discharged to furlough on 16th December, 1915.
Private Banks was posted to Grey Towers (Manor House at Hornchurch Convalescent Depot) from 12th January, 1916 then reported to Codford, Wiltshire on 6th July, 1916. He was admitted to No. 3 General Hospital at Codford on 12th July, 1916.
On 22nd August, 1916 Private Banks was admitted to Hospital at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire & reported to Command Depot at Codford on 5th September, 1916. He was hospitalised on 25th September, 1916 & transferred to No. 3 Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 10th October, 1916.
A Medical Report was completed on Private Kenneth Banks on 17th December, 1916 at Grey Towers, Hornchurch, England. His disability was listed as Synovitis Right Knee which he stated had occurred at Codford, England in June, 1916. “Injury to knee due to fall off 12ft from a scaffold.” The Officer in charge of medical case recommended that Private Banks was permanently unfit for War Service for six months & unfit for Home Service for three months. This was approved by Medical Board at Hornchurch on 29th December, 1916.
He embarked from Plymouth, England on S.S. Athenic for New Zealand on 5th April, 1917 & was struck off strength of N.Z.E.F. (New Zealand Expeditionary Force).
Private Kenneth Banks was discharged from N.Z.E.F. (New Zealand Expeditionary Force) in New Zealand and struck off strength on 10th July, 1917.
Kenneth Banks enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 15th July, 1918 as a 27 year old, single, Assayer from Brisbane, Queensland.
Private Banks embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Bakara (A41) for active service on 4th September, 1918 with the 6th Queensland Reinforcements. He was admitted to Ships Hospital on 19th October, 1918 with Influenza & was discharged from Ship’s Hospital on 22nd October, 1918.
On 27th October, 1918 he was re-admitted to Ships Hospital with Pneumonia.
Private Kenneth Banks died on 1st November, 1918 at Sea on board HMAT Bakara (A41) from Heart failure following Pneumonia.
He was buried at Sea on 1st November, 1918 from HMAT Bakara (A41). He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-a---b.html
(Note: this is possibly K. Banks but listed as "J. Banks")
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"Word has been received in Brisbane of the death at sea on board the Bakara, November 1 last, of Private Kenneth Banks, from Spanish influenza. Private Kenneth Banks was one of the original Anzacs, having served with the 3rd reinforcements of the 13th Canterbury Infantry, New Zealand. He was invalided home early in 1918, and was returning to active service, having re-enlisted in Brisbane with the 6th RQ. He was the only son of the late Mr. J. A. Banks, of H.M Customs, and grandson of the late Mr. J. J. Banks, New Farm, Brisbane." - from the Queenslander 01 Feb 1919 (nla.gov.au)
Click images to start slideshow.