Kennedy, Peter

1855 Private Peter Kennedy – 33rd Battalion AIF

Peter Kennedy was born in Edinburgh Scotland in 1876 to Mr. & Mrs. Jessie Kennedy. He was educated in Edinburgh but while he was still young he travelled with his parents to Western Australia where they took up residence. Peter soon found employment as a Wharf Lumper at Fremantle Harbour and he would stay in this role up to his enlistment in the Great War.

In 1902 Peter had married Catherine Costigan in Waroona WA and after their marriage they took up residence in Norfolk Street Fremantle.

On the 19^th April 1916 Peter went to the Fremantle Drill Hall to enlist in the AIF. He was passed as fit by the medical examiner who recorded Peter’s physical attributes as;

Height:                                     5 feet 4 & ½ inches;

Weight:                                    164lbs;

Chest Measurement:              37-40 inches;

Complexion:                            Fresh;

Eyes:                                       Brown;

Hair:                                        Fair;

Religious Denomination:         Presbyterian

Distinctive Marks:                   2 vaccination scars

After his successful enlistment Peter was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was allotted to No.66 Training Depot. On the 4^th May 1916 he was transferred into the 2^nd Reinforcements for the 44^th Battalion at Claremont Showgrounds Camp.

Peter would train with this group in WA for the next three months while they waited for their departure orders. Prior to their embarkation, the 2nd Reinforcements had a group photo taken at Claremont.

The embarkation orders finally arrived and on the 9^th August 1916 Peter and the 2^nd Reinforcement Group boarded the HMAT Miltiades in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England. The journey took seven weeks and they berthed at Plymouth Harbour on the 25^th September 1916.

After being disembarked the men were marched into the 11^th Training Battalion at Codford Camp on the Salisbury Plains. On the 13^th October 1916 Peter was taken on strength of the 44^th Battalion however on the 11^th November the men from 2^nd Reinforcements to the 44^th Battalion were transferred to the 33^rd and 34^th Battalions of the 9^th Brigade AIF. Peter would join the 33^rd Battalion but he didn’t have long with his new unit in England as the 33^rd embarked from Southampton on the 21^st November 1916. The 3^rd Division units were sent to what was called the Nursery sector near Armentieres. It was so called as at this stage it was a quiet part of the front line for new troops to acclimatise to the conditions of the Western Front. Peter remained with his unit through the first few months of its service. On the 6^th April 1917 at L’Epinette near Armentieres, the 33^rd Battalion were manning the front line trench system.

Peter was on duty in a forward bombing post when a bomb exploded close by, shattering his left leg and both arms. His mates bandaged him up as best they could and stretcher bearers carried him to the 11^th Field Ambulance. Further emergency first aid was given here and he was quickly sent on to the 2^nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. The surgeon found that Peter’s left leg was so shattered that there was no other option apart from amputation. The leg was amputated through the knee joint though the medical officers were able to save his left arm even though it was badly fractured.

Peter had been very badly wounded and remained at the 2^nd ACCS for four days as it was too risky to move him so soon after the amputation. On the 11^th April he was put on an Ambulance train and taken to Calais where he was admitted to the 35^th General Hospital. Peter would remain here for several weeks until it was safe enough to move him and ship him to England. On the 2^nd June 1917 he left Calais aboard a hospital ship and was taken to England. He was admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital and he would spend a further three months here undergoing medical treatment. On the 11^th September 1917 Peter was transferred to the 2^nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Southall.

At the 2^nd AAH he was given a thorough medical examination and it was found that his general health was good despite the amputation of his left leg. It was also recorded that his right arm had healed though he was still having trouble using his left arm, and he had no use of his fingers on that hand.

It was during his time in England that Peter was first fitted with an artificial leg and he would have had to begin walking with this leg under supervision. Peter remained a patient at 2^nd AAH into January 1918. On the 3^rd of January he was given a fortnight’s furlough, returning on the 18^th January 1918.

Peter was now fit enough for the sea voyage to Australia and on the 15^th February 1918 he was put aboard the HT Llanstephen Castle and set sail for WA. On the 8^th April 1918 Peter arrived in Fremantle and was immediately taken to the 8^th Australian General Hospital for further treatment. Fortunately for Peter’s wife, Catherine, the hospital was just around the corner from their Norfolk Street house and so she was able to visit him straight away.

Peter was given a thorough medical examination and it was found that his stump had healed and that the artificial leg was satisfactory. Unfortunately it was found that his left hand was still practically useless. It would have been hard for Peter to realise that he would no longer be able to be a Lumper on the wharf with the injuries he had sustained though the medical officers stated that it was a permanent incapacity.

Unfortunately neither Peter nor Catherine would survive for long after the Armistice. Catherine died on the 19^th of June 1921 and Peter passed away on the 12^th June 1923.

Both are buried in Fremantle Cemetery, but in separate plots. Private Peter Kennedy lies in plot Presbyterian Mon E 0220. Unfortunately there is no headstone marking Peter’s final resting place.

Fortunately Peter’s mother was still alive and resident in Broken Hill NSW. She claimed his medals as he had no children or other direct family.