In Memory of my Great Uncle - Sgt. Joseph Chester KERR No. 900 D Coy. 24th Battalion, AIF, -(Red and White Diamond) Killed in Action 26th August, 1916 age 20 years 4th Son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Kerr, "Arcadia Homestead", Shepparton. Victoria. Survived Gallipoli and killed in the battle for "Mouquet Farm", near Poziers, France. No known grave, but believed to be buried in the Poziers (British) Commonwealth Cemetery at Ovillers-La Boisselle, France. In a letter home to Chesters parents dated Sept. 14th, 1916 from Pte. W.W. Little - I, Private W.W. Little, 906, 24th Batt., D. Coy, am very sorry to relate the death of your brave son, Sergeant J.C. Kerr who was killed in action the end of last month. I have known Chess ever since he joined the colors in March, 1915. I have been with him ever since he left Australia. He was always very well liked by the boys as a private and also as a N.C.O., which we all think and know he was the right man in the right place. He was holding a very important position in the front firing line at the time he met his death. I was a stretcher-bearer, and the call came along the line, and I saw Chess; I did my best and got him on my stretcher. After attending to him I saw he was beyond all hope, and he asked for water. He said "I am only paying the price which others have paid and I know there is no chance for me. Never mind. Are my men still hanging on to that post?" I think personally, that he was the bravest soldier that was in the 24th Battalion, and the lads of the company are never finished talking about him as he was highly respected by all who knew him, and the next morning we buried him. And in time, if all goes well, I will be able to tell you more, as I could tell you more by word of mouth than letter. I must say that all the Privates, N.C.O.s, and Officers are very sorry at their's and your loss. We miss him more as each day goes by. I think this is all I can say just now. Believ! e me to be your sincere friend. Pte. W.W. LITTLE, 906 D. COY, 24th Batt. A.I.F. On active service in France. LEST WE FORGET Beverley Gall (nee Kerr), Euroa. Vic.

I would like to remember the following young men and boys Leonard John BANFIELD died 22 August 1915, at Gallipoli George JACKSON -Lambton- died 25th october 1916, buried Villers-Bretonneux, France John Gilbert REAY -Wallsend- died 31st October 1916, buried in France Hunter (Harry) SINCLAIR -Wallsend-died 10 the January 1919, Courtrai, Belgium Andrew SNEDDON -Wallsend- died 23rd February 1917, buried in France William Lesley Hunter SNEDDON, - Minmi- died 17th June 1917, Messines, Belgium Rosalee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bev Gall" <bevgall@bigpond.com> To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 5:18 PM Subject: [AUS-MIL] Lest We Forget > In Memory of my Great Uncle - Sgt. Joseph Chester KERR No. 900 D Coy. > 24th Battalion, AIF, -(Red and White Diamond) > Killed in Action 26th August, 1916 age 20 years > 4th Son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Kerr, "Arcadia Homestead", Shepparton. > Victoria. > Survived Gallipoli and killed in the battle for "Mouquet Farm", near > Poziers, France. > No known grave, but believed to be buried in the Poziers (British) > Commonwealth Cemetery at Ovillers-La Boisselle, France. > > In a letter home to Chesters parents dated Sept. 14th, 1916 from Pte. W.W. > Little - > > I, Private W.W. Little, 906, 24th Batt., D. Coy, am very sorry to > relate the death of your brave son, Sergeant J.C. Kerr who was killed in > action the end of last month. I have known Chess ever since he joined the > colors in March, 1915. I have been with him ever since he left Australia. > He was always very well liked by the boys as a private and also as a > N.C.O., which we all think and know he was the right man in the right > place. > He was holding a very important position in the front firing line at the > time he met his death. I was a stretcher-bearer, and the call came along > the line, and I saw Chess; I did my best and got him on my stretcher. > After attending to him I saw he was beyond all hope, and he asked for > water. He said "I am only paying the price which others have paid and I > know there is no chance for me. Never mind. Are my men still hanging on > to that post?" I think personally, that he was the bravest soldier that > was in the 24th Battalion, and the lads of the company are never finished > talking about him as he was highly respected by all who knew him, and the > next morning we buried him. And in time, if all goes well, I will be able > to tell you more, as I could tell you more by word of mouth than letter. > I must say that all the Privates, N.C.O.s, and Officers are very sorry at > their's and your loss. We miss him more as each day goes by. I think > this is all I can say just now. Believ! > e me to be your sincere friend. Pte. W.W. LITTLE, 906 D. COY, 24th > Batt. A.I.F. On active service in France. > > LEST WE FORGET Beverley Gall (nee Kerr), Euroa. Vic. > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > AUS-MILITARY is set so that, by default, replies go to the list. Please > check your replies before sending, to make sure that is what you know is > happening.