KENNEDY, Thomas James
| Service Number: | 1702 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 25 May 1894 |
| Home Town: | Hawthorne, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Dental Mechanic |
| Died: | Brisbane Queensland Australia , 19 October 1923, aged 29 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Balmoral Cemetery, Qld Plot 10-77 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1702, 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 1702, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Mashobra embarkation_ship_number: A47 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 1702, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, HMAT Mashobra, Sydney | |
| 9 Apr 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Light Horse Regiment | |
| 26 Jul 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2nd Light Horse Regiment | |
| 5 Jan 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 2nd Light Horse Regiment | |
| 6 Jan 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 2nd Light Horse Regiment | |
| 21 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 1702, 2nd Light Horse Regiment |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sue Smith
Thomas James Kennedy, known as Tom, was born on 25th May 1894 at Brisbane QLD, the 4th of 6 children born to his parents Thomas and Mary Kennedy. He had 3 older sisters, Margaret, Elizabeth (died in infancy) and Mary as well as a younger brother William and a younger sister Sarah. After completing his education Tom worked as a dental mechanic. Prior to WW1 he served in the Moreton Regiment which later became known as the 9th Infantry Battalion.
Tom enlisted on 4th August 1915 at Brisbane QLD aged 21. He’s described as being 5ft 7ins tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His service number was 1702, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 2nd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance (2nd ALHFA), 11th Reinforcements. After completing his initial training at Enoggera Camp in Brisbane, he proceeded to Sydney where he embarked on HMAT Mashobra on 4th October 1915, along with my grandfather, Cyril Morsley, who was with the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance. They knew each other prior to enlisting with both being members of the Methodist Church in Brisbane. Cyril mentions Tom in his war diaries as they worked together on several occasions. Tom disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 6th November 1915 and proceeded to Maadi Camp, 8miles south of Cairo.
In late February 1916 the 2nd LHFA proceeded to Serapeum Camp to serve in the ANZAC Mounted Division as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. On 16th May 1916 Tom was admitted to the unit hospital with sunstroke while they were camped at Bir el Maler near Romani. He re-joined his unit the next day. In mid-November he was evacuated from Hill 70 to the 26th Casualty Clearing Station at Kantara with diphtheria. Three days later he was admitted to the 31st General Hospital at Port Said. He re-joined his unit a month later at Hassaniya.
On 9th April 1917 Tom transferred to the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment (2nd ALHR) just in time to take part in the Second Battle of Gaza from 17th to 19th April 1917. After taking part in the Battle of Beersheba on 31st October the 2nd ALHR, during November 1917, were involved in the Third Battle for Gaza, Battle of Mughar Ridge, Battle of Nebi Samwil, Battle of Jaffa and the Battle of Jerusalem which continued from mid-November till the end of December 1917.
In February 1918 Tom, with the 2nd ALHR, took part in the Battle of Jericho then in late March they participated in the First Battle of Amman. A month later they fought in the Es Salt Raid in early May. In late July 1918 Tom was promoted to Lance Corporal then in early October was appointed Temporary Corporal. From the 19th to 25th September 1918 Tom and the 2nd ALHR took part in the Battle of Megiddo which included the Battle of Nablus. The 2nd ALHR moved to Jerusalem on 5th November 1918 and the next day Tom was appointed Temporary Lance Sergeant while doing the duties of the Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant at the 1st Light Horse Brigade Details Camp at Moascar.
On 5th January 1919 Tom was promoted to Corporal and the following day he was promoted to Lance Sergeant. He re-joined the 2nd ALHR at Rafa on 12th February 1919 and a month later the unit entrained from there for Kantara. The unit, including Tom, embarked from Kantara the next day on HMNZT Ulimaroa for return to Australia. They arrived at Brisbane on 19th April 1919 but due to concerns about an influenza outbreak, they were quarantined at Lytton for a week. Upon their release they disembarked and the entire unit marched down Queen Street in Brisbane QLD. Tom was discharged from the service on 21st June 1919.
Tom passed away on 19th October 1923 aged 29. His funeral was held the next day, moving from his home at Dutton Street, Hawthorne, to the Bulimba Cemetery, now known as the Balmoral Cemetery, Brisbane QLD.
Tom is commemorated on the East Brisbane War Memorial located at Mowbray Park, Lytton Road, East Brisbane QLD.
Thomas James Kennedy was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 18th April 2023.
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