Kenworthy, Reginald Beattie
2807 Corporal Reginald Beattie Kenworthy - Imperial Camel Corps & Australian Army Service Corps
Reginald Kenworthy was born in Fremantle in 1894 to William and Rose Kenworthy. He was the eldest of six children, with, George 1895, William 1897, Keith 1901, Harold 1903 and Ronald 1906.
The family lived in South Street Fremantle before moving to Chester Street. Reginald and his siblings were educated locally and after leaving school Reg took up employment as a Fitter and Turner.
On the 29th November 1915 Reg enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for enlistment, with the medical officer recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 153lbs;
Chest Measurement - 36-39 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Fair.
After his successful enlistment, Reg was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and he was assigned to the infantry training depot. Reg requested to be sent to the Light Horse and after passing the riding tests was assigned to the 15th Reinforcements to the 10th Light Horse Regiment. It appears he was made an Acting Corporal for training purposes, and Reg then went to the 16th Reinforcements for the 10th Light Horse. On the 15th May 1916 he was then transferred to the 18th Reinforcements and on the 9th June 1916 was sent to the 19th Reinforcements to the 10th Light Horse Regiment.
(Photo below of Reginald Kenworthy courtesy of Phil Sullivan)
He trained with this group in WA for just over a month and on the 17th July 1916 entrained to Fremantle Harbour where he boarded the transport ship RMS Mongolia. This ship then set sail for Egypt. After being disembarked the men were sent to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Regiment at Moascar. On the 9th September 1916 Reg was transferred to No.3 Company of the 1st battalion Imperial Camel Corps.
Reg served with the Regiment at the Battles of Magdhaba in December 1916 and Rafa in January 1917. The advance then progressed and the Camel Corps saw action at Gaza in April 1917. The attack was costly and unsuccessful through Reg came through safely. The Imperial Camel Corps saw further action on patrol duty for the next few months around the Gaza to Beersheba Turkish defence line.
In October 1917 Reg took part in the operations involving capture of Beersheba and in November 1917 at Jerusalem. He saw further action at Jericho in January 1918. The advance then went through to the Jordan Valley and Reg saw action with his unit in this sector for the next few months, including in May 1918 at Es Salt.
On the 27th May 1918 Reg was transferred to the Australian Army Veterinary Training Camp at Moascar and remained here through to August 1918. The Camel Corps had been disbanded and Reg was then transferred to the Australian Mounted Division Train of the Australian Army Service Corps. Reg was taken on strength of No.32 Company AASC. Through 1919 he served with No.33 Company and then No.34 Company.
Reg returned to Australia in June 1919 aboard the transport ship HMT Essex. Reg arrived at Fremantle on the 16th July 1919. Reg was then discharged from the AIF on the 30th August 1919.
After his return home in 1919 Reg married Hilda Beatrice Brown. They had a son Lionel born in 1921. His family were living at DeLisle Road North Fremantle, but Reg and Hilda then took up residence in Victoria Park.
The family would live in Victoria Park through to the 1960's.
Reginald died in Victoria Park on the 20th December 1961 aged 66. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican ZF 0326.