The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1676) Private Harold Horace Kennedy, 51st Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Melanie Cassar the story for this day was on (1676) Private Harold Horace Kennedy, 51st Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1676 Private Harold Horace Kennedy, 51st Battalion, AIF
KIA 24 April 1918


Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Harold Horace Kennedy.

Harold Kennedy was born on the 24th of April 1878 in Franklin, Tasmania. He was one of 13 children born to local storekeeper Abraham Kennedy and his wife Ellen. He received his education at Franklin State School and later at Friends High School in Hobart, where he was a well-known athlete and footballer. On completion of his education, he took up work as a farmer.

When the First World War broke out in 1914, Harold Kennedy was living in Victoria. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force from Melbourne, on 4 October 1915 and was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements of the 51st Battalion. He embarked for active service from Melbourne on 7 March 1916, travelling via Fremantle where he boarded the troopship Aeneas, bound for the Western Front.

Private Kennedy arrived in England in early June, where he proceeded to camp to continue his training. He joined his comrades in the front line trenches in August, where his unit had been involved in fierce fighting around the French village of Pozieres. He took part in his first major battle of the war just weeks later on 3 September as Allied forces attacked enemy positions at Mouquet Farm. Kennedy survived the carnage of his first battle, only to fall ill soon after. He was sent to hospital for several weeks and re-joined his unit in Belgium in early October that year. He spent the weeks which followed engaged in trench repairs and improvements as well as training behind the lines. Like many others who succumbed to the difficult conditions of trench life, Kennedy found himself in hospital again in late November. He remained in hospital until the New Year, avoiding a bitterly cold winter in the front lines.

Early 1917 was marked by the Germans strategic withdrawal to the fortified Hindenburg Line. Their retreat was eagerly followed by Allied units who seized their opportunity to push the enemy back. In advancing on the Germans, these units were confronted by well-prepared rear-guard defences and booby-trapped towns which resulted in a series of bloody clashes between allied forces and the enemy. Private Kennedy’s unit was involved in one such clash when they attacked fortified enemy positions in the village of Noreuil in early April 1917, which resulted in days of bloody fighting.
Kennedy’s unit was transferred to the Ypres Salient later that year as the focus of Allied operations switched to the Belgian front. Briefly hospitalised with exhaustion, Kennedy missed his unit’s attack at Messines in June, but returned to the front in time for their next attack at Polygon Wood. Here, Kennedy was wounded in action as his unit advanced on their objectives. Suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg, he was evacuated to England to recover in hospital. He remained there until Christmas Eve 1917, when he re-joined the 51st Battalion at the front, spending a cold winter in the trenches.

In March 1918, the Germans launched a major offensive along the Western Front. Kennedy’s division was moved into positions around the village of Dernancourt where they later helped to repulse a major enemy attack on 5 April. The threat of an enemy breakthrough was realised later that month, when the Germans succeeded in capturing the vital town of Villers-Bretonneux on 24 April 1918. Orders were given for the 13th and 15th Australian Brigades to recapture the town that same day to prevent the enemy from further entrenching themselves.

The two Australian brigades sought to encircle the town while British infantry cleared it of the enemy. As they advanced, the Australian units came under fire along their flank from an area they believed was clear of the enemy. Attempting to make his way through the barbed wire, Private Kennedy was hit by machine gun fire and was killed instantly. His death came on the morning of his 40th birthday.

The Australians eventually successfully secured the town by 26 April at a cost of almost two and half thousand casualties.

The 51st Battalion’s chaplain wrote to Private Kennedy’s family after his death, saying:

“I wish to convey to you the sincere sympathy of all officers and men of the 13th Brigade… He took part in one of the greatest actions of the war in the retaking of Villers-Bretonneux on the 24th of April 1918. All did splendidly, going forward in the face of great machine gun fire and secured a real victory. I trust that it will be some consolation to you to feel that he took part in, and helped to secure such an important success.”

Private Harold Kennedy’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Harold Horace Kennedy, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meghan Adams
Researcher, Military History Section