A Lone Tasmanian - Harold Horace Kennedy
Service number 1676 – 51st Battalion Australian Imperial Force
by Dale Chatwin
Service number 1676 – 51st Battalion Australian Imperial Force
by Dale Chatwin
This is the story of a Franklin born soldier who participated in and lost his life in one of the most important Australian military events of the First World War, the counter-attack to re-capture the French village of Villers-Bretonneux on 24 April 1918.
Villers-Bretonneux
How important was and is Villers-Bretonneux? In a speech given by Lt General Sir John Monash on Anzac Day 25 April 1919 he said " ... Very few people in England realise what a decisive and critical battle was fought on the Amiens front just 12 months ago. The enemy made a final attempt to capture Amiens …
It fell to two Australian brigades to restore the situation. It was due to the wonderful gallantry, skill and endurance of the 13th and 15th Australian brigades that Villers-Bretonneux was recaptured. That event was the crisis of the whole war ..." .
Perhaps not ‘the crisis of the whole war’ but today the Australian National Memorial in France; the Sir John Monash Centre; and the cemetery from where Australia’s Unknown Soldier was exhumed in the 1990s, are all in Villers-Bretonneux. And though today Harold Horace Kennedy is only commemorated on the walls of the Australian National Memorial if you read on you will find where he really lies.
How important was and is Villers-Bretonneux? In a speech given by Lt General Sir John Monash on Anzac Day 25 April 1919 he said " ... Very few people in England realise what a decisive and critical battle was fought on the Amiens front just 12 months ago. The enemy made a final attempt to capture Amiens …
It fell to two Australian brigades to restore the situation. It was due to the wonderful gallantry, skill and endurance of the 13th and 15th Australian brigades that Villers-Bretonneux was recaptured. That event was the crisis of the whole war ..." .
Perhaps not ‘the crisis of the whole war’ but today the Australian National Memorial in France; the Sir John Monash Centre; and the cemetery from where Australia’s Unknown Soldier was exhumed in the 1990s, are all in Villers-Bretonneux. And though today Harold Horace Kennedy is only commemorated on the walls of the Australian National Memorial if you read on you will find where he really lies.
The Australian Soldier in the First World War
Most Australians who fought on the Western Front were in France and Belgium for more than two years on average. By 1918, if they had survived the battles of 1916 and 1917 the average Australian soldier had been seriously ill or wounded at least three times and most had fought in battle after battle. Apart from occasional leave and training in the UK, or time spent in hospital the majority spent nearly all their time in the front line or behind the line training day in and day out.
This meant that by April 1918 they were brilliantly trained and hardened soldiers. To the extent that a British General who watched the attack at Villers-Bretonneux on 24 April 1918 was moved to write in 1936 in the NSW Returned Soldiers magazine Reveille, "It will ever be remembered for perhaps the greatest individual feat of the war".
Most Australians who fought on the Western Front were in France and Belgium for more than two years on average. By 1918, if they had survived the battles of 1916 and 1917 the average Australian soldier had been seriously ill or wounded at least three times and most had fought in battle after battle. Apart from occasional leave and training in the UK, or time spent in hospital the majority spent nearly all their time in the front line or behind the line training day in and day out.
This meant that by April 1918 they were brilliantly trained and hardened soldiers. To the extent that a British General who watched the attack at Villers-Bretonneux on 24 April 1918 was moved to write in 1936 in the NSW Returned Soldiers magazine Reveille, "It will ever be remembered for perhaps the greatest individual feat of the war".
Harold Horace KENNEDY
Harold Horace Kennedy was born in 1878 in Franklin, Tasmania, recorded as the 9th child of ten (possibly 13) children born to Abraham and Ellen (nee Thompson), storekeepers at Franklin. The family retained extensive links over two generations to the Franklin township until 1929.
Harold was initially educated at Franklin State School and later at the Friends School in Hobart as were some of his siblings. It is reported that he excelled at athletics and football [Australian Football].
Little is known of his life after he left school, but he certainly retained connections into Tasmania through family and friends. When the First World War broke-out he was living in Melbourne and nominated Farmer as his occupation. The Will he made in France stated his profession as Clerk.
Kennedy enlisted on 4 October 1915 and spent some time in Depot service in Ballarat before being posted to join the 15th Reinforcements of the 8th Battalion with a service number of 4811 - a Victorian battalion – in mid-January 1916. He embarked for France from Melbourne in early March 1916. A photograph exists of Kennedy just prior to embarkation.
Harold Horace Kennedy was born in 1878 in Franklin, Tasmania, recorded as the 9th child of ten (possibly 13) children born to Abraham and Ellen (nee Thompson), storekeepers at Franklin. The family retained extensive links over two generations to the Franklin township until 1929.
Harold was initially educated at Franklin State School and later at the Friends School in Hobart as were some of his siblings. It is reported that he excelled at athletics and football [Australian Football].
Little is known of his life after he left school, but he certainly retained connections into Tasmania through family and friends. When the First World War broke-out he was living in Melbourne and nominated Farmer as his occupation. The Will he made in France stated his profession as Clerk.
Kennedy enlisted on 4 October 1915 and spent some time in Depot service in Ballarat before being posted to join the 15th Reinforcements of the 8th Battalion with a service number of 4811 - a Victorian battalion – in mid-January 1916. He embarked for France from Melbourne in early March 1916. A photograph exists of Kennedy just prior to embarkation.
For some reason (not currently understood) when his transport called at Freemantle, he failed to re-embark from shore leave. This did occur occasionally and soldiers who missed their ship were usually given the option of joining another battalion. The alternative being a court martial, accompanied almost certainly by prison time and a dishonourable discharge. Kennedy enlisted in a Western Australian battalion and was assigned service number 1676 in the 2nd Reinforcements of the 51st Bn AIF.
A lone Tasmanian who had been living in Victoria was now part of a battalion overwhelmingly comprised of Western Australians. In my research to date I have located only two Tasmanians serving with the 51st Bn AIF prior to April 1918.
Kennedy re-embarked at Freemantle departing Australia on 17 April 1916. Red Cross records reporting his death record in 1918 record that within the 51st Battalion he was known as the ‘Dog King’, a nickname supposedly picked up ‘in Egypt’ in 1916. Perhaps this reflected skills acquired earlier in life but Kennedy’s time in Egypt was very short as he was in England in early June 1916 where he continued his basic training. Vessels in convoy took about six to eight weeks to sail to England in 1916 even though the Suez Canal was open.
Kennedy embarked for France in late July but did not join his battalion until late August. Just in time to take part in his Brigade’s (the 13th) disastrous attacks on Mouquet Farm in early September 1916. He fell ill almost immediately after the battle – diagnosed with pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin but probably a consequence of the terrible conditions faced in the trenches and during the battle for Mouquet Farm. He spent a period in hospital convalescing returning to duty in early October 1916. In late November 1916 he was back in hospital before having to suffer through the appalling Somme winter of 1916. As Kennedy was a 1916 recruit, he was not entitled to long leave like 1915 soldiers were.
In late March and early April 1917, he was involved in the battles around Noreuil before moving to Belgium. Later in the year he fought at Polygon Wood where he was wounded and afterwards moved to England to recover. He returned to France just after Christmas 1917.
In 1918 the enemy launched a massive Spring Offensive and the Australians were rushed from Belgium back to the Somme. Kennedy’s 51st battalion was involved in the defence of Dernancourt on 5 April where units of the 12th and 13th Australian Brigades resisted the largest ever attack of enemy forces on the Australians on the Western Front.
Just three weeks later following the loss of Villers-Bretonneux to the enemy on the morning of 24 April 1918, Kennedy’s battalion, as part of the 13th Brigade, was ordered to march six miles uphill to assist in the recapture of Villers-Bretonneux. With just a short rest the counter-attack to recapture the town commenced at 10.10PM on the evening of 24 April 1918. It was an attack over unreconnoitered ground in the dark without artillery support. Australia’s Official War Correspondent, Charles Bean, who had witnessed almost every major AIF action on the Western Front, reflecting on what the 13th Brigade was trying to achieve that night, recorded in his War Diary, ‘I don’t believe they have a chance …’.
Almost as soon as the attack commenced the 51st Battalion were fired on from the woods on their left by enemy machine-guns which were not supposed to be there. Kennedy, although in the middle Company during the attack, was killed by fire from these machine guns just ten minutes into the battle. [There are Red Cross reports recording Kennedy’s last moments].
A lone Tasmanian who had been living in Victoria was now part of a battalion overwhelmingly comprised of Western Australians. In my research to date I have located only two Tasmanians serving with the 51st Bn AIF prior to April 1918.
Kennedy re-embarked at Freemantle departing Australia on 17 April 1916. Red Cross records reporting his death record in 1918 record that within the 51st Battalion he was known as the ‘Dog King’, a nickname supposedly picked up ‘in Egypt’ in 1916. Perhaps this reflected skills acquired earlier in life but Kennedy’s time in Egypt was very short as he was in England in early June 1916 where he continued his basic training. Vessels in convoy took about six to eight weeks to sail to England in 1916 even though the Suez Canal was open.
Kennedy embarked for France in late July but did not join his battalion until late August. Just in time to take part in his Brigade’s (the 13th) disastrous attacks on Mouquet Farm in early September 1916. He fell ill almost immediately after the battle – diagnosed with pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin but probably a consequence of the terrible conditions faced in the trenches and during the battle for Mouquet Farm. He spent a period in hospital convalescing returning to duty in early October 1916. In late November 1916 he was back in hospital before having to suffer through the appalling Somme winter of 1916. As Kennedy was a 1916 recruit, he was not entitled to long leave like 1915 soldiers were.
In late March and early April 1917, he was involved in the battles around Noreuil before moving to Belgium. Later in the year he fought at Polygon Wood where he was wounded and afterwards moved to England to recover. He returned to France just after Christmas 1917.
In 1918 the enemy launched a massive Spring Offensive and the Australians were rushed from Belgium back to the Somme. Kennedy’s 51st battalion was involved in the defence of Dernancourt on 5 April where units of the 12th and 13th Australian Brigades resisted the largest ever attack of enemy forces on the Australians on the Western Front.
Just three weeks later following the loss of Villers-Bretonneux to the enemy on the morning of 24 April 1918, Kennedy’s battalion, as part of the 13th Brigade, was ordered to march six miles uphill to assist in the recapture of Villers-Bretonneux. With just a short rest the counter-attack to recapture the town commenced at 10.10PM on the evening of 24 April 1918. It was an attack over unreconnoitered ground in the dark without artillery support. Australia’s Official War Correspondent, Charles Bean, who had witnessed almost every major AIF action on the Western Front, reflecting on what the 13th Brigade was trying to achieve that night, recorded in his War Diary, ‘I don’t believe they have a chance …’.
Almost as soon as the attack commenced the 51st Battalion were fired on from the woods on their left by enemy machine-guns which were not supposed to be there. Kennedy, although in the middle Company during the attack, was killed by fire from these machine guns just ten minutes into the battle. [There are Red Cross reports recording Kennedy’s last moments].
A little over a year later the early phases of the counter-attack were commemorated in a painting executed by Official War Artist, Will Longstaff. The painting, Night attack by 13th Brigade on Villers-Bretonneux, is today one of the Australian War Memorial’s greatest treasures, and when viewed it is not hard to imagine Harold Horace Kennedy somewhere in the painting.
Following the battle Donald Blackwood, a Tasmanian and Chaplain of the 13th Brigade, wrote to Kennedy’s brother, ‘he took part in one of the greatest actions of the war in the re-taking of Villers-Bretonneux on 24th April 1918. All did splendidly … and secured a real victory. I trust that it will be some consolation to you that he took part in and helped to secure such an important success.’
Blackwood had many letters like this to write. The 13th Brigade suffered over 1000 casualties at Villers-Bretonneux with the losses so severe that Kennedy’s battalion’s sister battalion, the 52nd, was disbanded just a month later and the surviving 120 Tasmanians transferred to the 51st Battalion. Harold Horace Kennedy would, if he had survived, been joined by a cohort of fellow Tasmanians.
Today there is no Known Grave for 1676 Harold Horace Kennedy in France but that was once not the case. Following the battle, as the Australians held the ground, the 51st dead were gathered and buried some 500 metres to the west of where they had launched their attack. The map reference was 0.35c Sheet 62d SW. Each soldier was provided with a Cross and their details collated.
Blackwood had many letters like this to write. The 13th Brigade suffered over 1000 casualties at Villers-Bretonneux with the losses so severe that Kennedy’s battalion’s sister battalion, the 52nd, was disbanded just a month later and the surviving 120 Tasmanians transferred to the 51st Battalion. Harold Horace Kennedy would, if he had survived, been joined by a cohort of fellow Tasmanians.
Today there is no Known Grave for 1676 Harold Horace Kennedy in France but that was once not the case. Following the battle, as the Australians held the ground, the 51st dead were gathered and buried some 500 metres to the west of where they had launched their attack. The map reference was 0.35c Sheet 62d SW. Each soldier was provided with a Cross and their details collated.
In early 1919 Kennedy’s identity disk was delivered to his older brother in Hobart and a little later a photograph of the grave forwarded. Unfortunately, in mid-1919, when a decision to concentrate the numerous small battalion cemeteries around Villers-Bretonneux was made, the previously known identities of many of the brave men in the 13th Brigade who had fought and died in late April 1918 were lost.
Today, Harold Horace Kennedy, service number 1676, almost certainly lies ‘unknown’ in a grave in Adelaide Cemetery just to the west of Villers-Bretonneux - marked ‘An Australian Soldier of the Great War - Known Unto God.’
Postscript: Though the location of Harold Horace Kennedy’s grave has been lost he is Not Forgotten. Locally, Harold Horace Kennedy is commemorated on the WW1 Memorial Boards inside the Palais at Franklin and at the Friends School in Hobart. On 16 January 2022 he was also remembered in a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
Today, Harold Horace Kennedy, service number 1676, almost certainly lies ‘unknown’ in a grave in Adelaide Cemetery just to the west of Villers-Bretonneux - marked ‘An Australian Soldier of the Great War - Known Unto God.’
Postscript: Though the location of Harold Horace Kennedy’s grave has been lost he is Not Forgotten. Locally, Harold Horace Kennedy is commemorated on the WW1 Memorial Boards inside the Palais at Franklin and at the Friends School in Hobart. On 16 January 2022 he was also remembered in a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
Best to watch from the 12th minute of 22 minutes Utube clip of ' Last Post Ceremony: Private Harold Horace Kennedy - 16 January 2022'
Text : © Dale Chatwin, Franklin - 2022
Dale’s grandfather Alton Chatwin, was with the 52nd Battalion at Villers-Bretonneux and was one of the 120 Tasmanians transferred to the 51st Battalion when it was disbanded on 16 May 1918. Following the war, he moved to the Huon Valley. A daughter May was born at Victoria (Ranelagh) in May 1922.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Anne Offor of Port Huon for bringing this soldier to my attention and Ruth Young of the Franklin History Group for compiling the scrapbook on Abraham Kennedy’s family in Franklin.
All images are from from Australian War Memorial (no copyright, in public domain now).
a) photograph of H Kennedy [ref: DAI3803]
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C994239?image=1
b) oil painting of ‘Night attack…’ by Will Longstaff [ref: ART03028 ]
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ART03028
c) photograph of Villers Bretonneux, France [ref: E05538 ]
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E05538
Bibliography
1. National Archives of Australia (Home page | naa.gov.au) , Item ID 7363530;
2. Abraham Houlton Kennedy, his family and 'Franklin Exchange' by
Ruth Young, (co-author), 2018;
3. Missing in action / By Marianne Van Velzen, 2018.
Dale’s grandfather Alton Chatwin, was with the 52nd Battalion at Villers-Bretonneux and was one of the 120 Tasmanians transferred to the 51st Battalion when it was disbanded on 16 May 1918. Following the war, he moved to the Huon Valley. A daughter May was born at Victoria (Ranelagh) in May 1922.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Anne Offor of Port Huon for bringing this soldier to my attention and Ruth Young of the Franklin History Group for compiling the scrapbook on Abraham Kennedy’s family in Franklin.
All images are from from Australian War Memorial (no copyright, in public domain now).
a) photograph of H Kennedy [ref: DAI3803]
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C994239?image=1
b) oil painting of ‘Night attack…’ by Will Longstaff [ref: ART03028 ]
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ART03028
c) photograph of Villers Bretonneux, France [ref: E05538 ]
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E05538
Bibliography
1. National Archives of Australia (Home page | naa.gov.au) , Item ID 7363530;
2. Abraham Houlton Kennedy, his family and 'Franklin Exchange' by
Ruth Young, (co-author), 2018;
3. Missing in action / By Marianne Van Velzen, 2018.