William Kenning

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 11/11/2015 - 12:57

First Name:

William

Last Name:

Kenning

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth Kenning (nee Thompson)

Father's Name:

Abraham Kenning

Date Enlisted:

Friday, August 14, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

11th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, April 6, 1916

Place of Death:

Egypt

Cause of Death:

Disease

Details:

William Kenning (Service No 449) was born in Bebside, England, around 1884 and came to Australia with his family.

When William enlisted he was a single 30 year old miner who had served in the Militia. While William's family still lived in the Illawarra, at Corrimal, N.S.W., he had left the Illawarra and enlisted in Western Australia, one of the first to do so.

William embarked from Fremantle on boad HMAT A11 Ascanius with D Company, 11th Battalion, on 31st October 1914. William is one of the very few Illawarra soldiers to have landed so early at Gallipoli. He served on Gallipoli, through all the really severe fighting including at Lone Pine.

On 26th August 1915 when he was back in Egypt, Wiliam was admitted to hospital suffering from bronchitis. He was evacuated to England on 28th September 1915 for further treatment.

William returned to Egypt on 25th March 1916, but became ill again. On 6th April 1916 he was admitted to 15th General Hospital at Alexandria suffereing from pneumonia. He died there the same day.

William is buried in Chatby War Memorial, Egypt: Cemetery Row E, Grave 73.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, KENNING WILLIAM