Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Keneth Maurice Halgren Solomon was born in Sydney, NSW on 4th October, 1888 to parents Samuel Henry & Dora Dagmar Solomon (nee Hollander). His birth was registered in the district of Woollahra, Sydney, NSW.  

He enlisted in London, England in August, 1914 with 15th London Regiment. He was given a regimental number of 1720 & his next of kin was listed as Mr S. H. Solomon, City Treasurer, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

From The London Gazette – 20 October, 1914:

The undermentioned Cadets and ex-Cadets of the Officers Training Corps to be temporary Second Lieutenant. Dated 17th October, 1914:-

…..

Kenneth Maurice Halgren Solomon

…..

He gained a commission with 11th Battalion, Gloucester Regiment.

Second Lieutenant Keneth Maurice Halgren Solomon was attached to 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment & joined them on 2nd July, 1915.

The Medal Index Card for Keneth Maurice Halgren Solomon recorded that he entered a Theatre of War on 13th May, 1915 – M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force).

On 22nd August, 1915 Second Lieutenant Solomon was wounded in action at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli.

Second Lieutenant Keneth Maurice Halgren Solomon died on 18th September, 1915 at Devonport Military Hospital, England from wounds received at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 22nd August, 1915.

He was buried in Willesden Jewish Cemetery, Willesden, Brent, London, England – Plot number Cx. 13. 28 and has a Private Memorial. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 

Sydney University – Book of Remembrance:

Keneth Maurice Halgren Solomon

B.A. (Syd. et Oxon), Law I: Lieutenant, 4th Battn. Worcester Regt., Gallipoli. Enlisting in London in August, 1914, joined the “London Irish,” being commissioned three and a half months later in 11th Gloucesters. Served at Gallipoli in 29th Division, with 4th Worcesters until wounded 22nd August, 1915, and evacuated to hospital. Died of Wounds, Devonport Hospital, England, 18th September, 1915, and was buried in Willesden Jewish Cemetery. Early education at Sydney Grammar School. Later at St. John’s College, Oxford, and the Inner Temple. “We have lost a distinguished mind and what is finer, a true and valorous man.”

Second Lieutenant Keneth Maurice Halgren Solomon is remembered on the Commemorative Roll Book, located in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. The Commemorative Roll records the names of those Australians who died during or as a result of wars in which Australians served, but who were not serving in the Australian Armed Forces and therefore not eligible for inclusion on the Roll of Honour.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/jewish-cemetery.html

Son of Samuel Henry and Dora Solomon, of Town Hall, Sydney, New South Wales.

Much sympathy is felt for Mr. S. H. Solomon, the City Treasurer, and Mrs. Solomon, in the bereavement they have sustained by the death of their only son, Lieut. Kenneth [Keneth] M. H. Solomon, of the 14th Gloucester Regiment, at Devonport Military Hospital, from wounds. This brave young man, who was studying for the profession of barrister at the Inner Temple, London, enlisted at the beginning of the war. He was a scholar of the Sydney Grammar School, and passed his degree of B.A. at the Sydney University, his career at both institutions being a distinguished one. He was a cultured and refined gentleman, of charming manners, which made him beloved by his friends, and a very promising life was cut short by his response to the call of duty. His feelings on this point may he judged from reading the following passage from one of his last letters to his father—

"If anyone objects to enlisting on personal or sentimental grounds, he's a fool. If nobody fought, everyone would be the sufferer. I'm not a bit sentimental over the war, but in great earnest. For any young man to turn out when a 'scrap' threatens seems to me as natural as breathing—he deserves no glamour, nor does he merit being treated after the event as though the credit thrust upon him wasn't its own reward. Do you know if, goodness forbid! our arms were to fail, I wouldn't live on under under another regime—I couldn't. There is a sort of spiritual freedom in our Umpire that other Peoples neither need nor recognise. To me it's everything. I've no doubt it is to you, too; and I knew from the beginning that flopping into the war headlong as I did would be the only course you could wish me to take. Au revoir, dad, dear. There's not much excitement over our going, and our phlegm is a great asset in a crisis, but I can't help thinking a little of what is ahead, and hoping that we're spared to see one another again (not too far ahead), and talk over Europe's bad dreams, her cures, and awakening."