The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Kennedy
First Name:
Mervyn St John
Rank:
Corporal
Regimental #:
WX10910
Classification:
Signaller
Company:
Headquarters Company
Enlisted:
7.02.1941
Discharged:
23.01.1946
DOB:
6.01.1919
Place of Birth:
Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Michael St John Kennedy
Mothers's Name:
Rose St John Kennedy (nee Bridges)
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Pre-war Occupation:
Clerk
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Mount Pleasant Camp, Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp), River Valley Road Camp, Selarang Barracks Changi. Following return from Thailand - X3 Party, Changi Gaol Camp
Force:
'F' Force Thailand
Camps Thailand:
Lower Sonkurai, Upper Sonkurai
POW#:
3/8392 and 15517
Return Details 1945:
Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, HMT Arawa, Sydney-Melbourne by troop train, Melbourne-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore.

General Description

Merve recorded his father as his NOK, and gave his address as Sherwood House, Sherwood Court Perth.  According to correspondence from his father during the war, Sherwood house had as many as 52 tennants and he was in charge.

 

Mervyn Kennedy acted as Signals Officer attached to ‘B’ Company Headquarters, formerly with HQ Coy 1 Platoon Signals.
He worked closely with Captain Tom Bunning who spoke highly of his work.  A comment from an old friend – “He was a lovely gentleman to share a beer with.  A twinkle in his eye and had a great sense of humour’.
He was officially reported POW 30 August 1943.
Kennedy worked on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force.  Please read further
We have no record of which Camp(s) Kennedy worked at on the Burma-Thai Railway, however we know Australian POWs were at Lower Shimo Sonkurai, Upper/Kami Sonkurai and/or Konkoita.
Cowie, Harold’s list of F Force

 

On returning to Singapore from Railway at end of 1943, Kennedy worked with X3 Party 1945.
You can read further
Mervyn was recovered from Singapore at the end of war.

 

 

His father Michael St John Kennedy was born 1877  m. his mother Rose Bridges 1915.     They had three daughters and one son, Mervyn.
His mother Rose Marie Kennedy d. 29 Sep 1939 aged 49 years.

 

Mervyn’s grandfather Michael died in 14 May 1929 Perth aged 87 years.
His father died in 1951.

 

Mervyn married in Perth 1946 to Mavis Theresa Baker.  They had a son Michael St John Kennedy b. 1953.  Michael died 13 March 1986.

 

1949 ELECTORAL ROLL Mervyn and Mavis residing 202 Blencowe St, Leederville, clerk.
1954 ELECTORAL ROLL Mervyn and Mavis Theresa residing 8 Whitfield St, Floreat Park.  Mervyn Clerk.
1958 ELECTORAL ROLL Mervyn and Mavis Theresa residing 8 Whitfield St, Floreat.  Mervyn is clerk.
1970 ELECTORAL ROLL Mervyn, Mavis and son Michael residing 8 Whitfield St, Mervyn and Michael both clerks.

 

 

Mervyn passed away at Floreat early 28 Feb 1989 and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.

 

 

Below:  Michael St John Kennedy  b. 1842 Poulacapple, Co. Tipperary, Ireland d. 1929 – he was grandfather to Mervyn.

 

Below:  Mervyn’s mother Rose Kennedy d. 1939.

 

 

Mervyn’s father Michael St John Kennedy died 1951.

 

 

 

Camp Locations:

  • Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
  • Mount Pleasant Camp - Singapore
  • River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp) - Singapore
  • Kami Songkurai, 299k - Thailand
  • Shimo Sonkurai, 288k - Thailand
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