Hugh Kerr

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 13/02/2017 - 13:13

First Name:

Hugh

Last Name:

Kerr

Date of Birth:

Monday, April 27, 1896

Mother's Name:

Isabella Kerr nee Davies

Father's Name:

Alexander Kerr

Date Enlisted:

Monday, January 10, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

60th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Wollongong, N.S.W.

Details:

Hugh Kerr (Service No 1930) was born in Hamilton, Scotland.

He lost both parents at a young age, and as a result, came to live with family in Australia, when he was 15 years old.

At enlistment he was single, 19 years old, worked as a miner and lived in Corrimal, N.S.W. Hugh listed his aunt, Mrs Robert Kerr, as his next of kin.

He embarked on HMAT A17 Port Lincoln, with 59th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement, on 4th May 1916. He arrived in Egypt on 10th June 1916, and went on to France, arriving on 8th August 1916.

On 25th November 1916, he joined 60th Battalion in the field, and saw service on the Western Front. On 4th June 1917, he was promoted to Lance Corporal and on 22nd April 1918, he was promoted to Corporal.

On 27th April 1918, Hugh received a gun shot wound to his right arm and was evacuated to hospital for treatment. He returned to duty on 21st June 1918.

Hugh went AWOL from 2nd September 1918 until 19th September 1918 and was consequently demoted to Private on 16th October 1918. He returned to Australia in May 1919 and was discharged on 15th August 1919.

In 1920, Hugh married Sylvia Thompson.

Hugh died in Wollongong, N.S.W., in 1965.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, KERR HUGH