“His Duty Nobly done,”¹ These are the words of a grieving father, who had just been informed of the death of his youngest son, Reginald Kennedy, who was on active duty in Belgium.  This was the same grieving father, who in the last eight month had buried his wife², also his daughter in law.³ And in another month would receive news of the death of his second son, Sydney Clarence Kennedy, who was also on active duty, in France.  Simon Kennedy and his wife Amelia nee Williams had been the proud parents of four boys.  Amelia died on Christmas Day 1916. Daughter in law Hilda Jessie Kennedy nee Carless died in October 1917, she was 22 years of age.  She was the wife of Sydney and the mother of Francis Joseph Kennedy.  The Army records for both Reginald and Sydney show their home address as Brougham Street Magill.

REGINALD KENNEDY

(photo courtesy of The R.S.L. Virtual War Memorial Website)

Reginald Kennedy was born on 17^th November 1897 at Magill.  He was educated at the Magill public School and also Norwood High School, and was employed as a telegraph messenger at Payneham.  He was a member of the 10^th reinforcements of the 10^th Battalion, mainly from South Australia.⁴ His Battalion sailed from Adelaide on 14^th September 1915 on the HMAT Ballarat A70. His Majesties Australian Transports were ships leased by the Government to transport troops and carry exports to Britain and France. Most were British Merchant ships some were captured German merchant ships.  After the retreat from Gallipoli, the 10^th Battalion regrouped in Egypt, and became part of the 50^th Battalion, before being sent to the Western Front.⁵ Reginald was injured and hospitalised on 16/8/1916. He returned to the front after recovering from his injuries.  He was again hospitalised with “trench foot” and died of his injuries on 26/9/1917.⁶ He is buried in Belgium at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Plot 24, Row D, and Grave 20. In 1919 his father, Simon, planted two trees in the Methodist Church at Magill, in honour of his two sons.⁷ In all ten trees were planted on that day, to commemorate ten lives lost from that congregation alone.

SYDNEY CLARENCE KENNEDY

(photo courtesy of The R.S.L. Virtual War Memorial Website)

Sydney was the second son of Simon and Amelia Kennedy, born on the 20^th August 1892. He enlisted on 20/1/1916 in the Australian Army medical Corps, 11^th Field Ambulance.  They were formed at Mitcham South Australia as part of the 3^rd Australian Division. The Commanding Officer was Lt. Col. M.H.Downey who was to be recommended for a Distinguished Service Order (DSO). The unit left Australia in four groups on different ships. Sydney Kennedy left Melbourne on the HMAT Berrima A35. The unit regrouped in July 1916, at Lark Hill Camp, Salisbury Plain. They spent four months at this camp, and it was recorded as a most pleasant experience.  On 24^th of November 1916 they left Southampton for France.  At Le Havre they travelled by train to Bailleul.  It took three days.  On arrival they were knee deep in mud, and marched for another two and a half days to Steenwerck, the Divisional Rest Station.  Steenwerk is on the French/Belgian border.  They were to spend two Christmases there.   This Station would become historic.  It was the first station they administered in France.  Great pioneering work was carried out at this station.⁸ Still grieving for members of his family that departed this earth, Simon Kennedy was again to receive terrible news from the front.  His second son Sydney Clarence, husband of recently departed Jessie, and father of Francis Joseph Kennedy, had been killed in action.⁹ He had died on 4/10/1917 and less than a month after the death of his younger brother.  Sydney Clarence Kennedy is buried in the Ypres Reservoir Cemetery in Belgium.

Researched and compiled by Jim Nelson, a volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au

References

1. The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Tuesday 23 October 1917, p 4
2. The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Tuesday 26 December 1916, p 6
3. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Saturday 4 September 1915, p 31
4. The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Friday 12 October 1917, p 5
5. https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U51450/
6. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Saturday 20 October 1917, p 38
7. Australian Christian Commonwealth (SA : 1901 - 1940) Friday 15 August 1919, p 15
8. http://www.raamc.org.au/web/11fda/index.php?History
9. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Saturday 5 October 1918, p 12