KENNEDY, Leslie Errol (1895-1971) Leslie Errol Kennedy was born in July 1895, the son of Thomas Kennedy and Grace nee Little.
He first attended Brim State School before his enrolment as a day student at Geelong College on 10 July 1910. He left College in December 1911. His address at enrolment was 'Thornbury Grange', Highton. He played with the 1st Football XVIII in 1911.
He served in the 70th Battalion (Militia) before his enlistment (No 2375) with 7 Battalion during World War I in the AIF at Broadmeadows Camp on 4 May 1915. He embarked with the 7th Reinforcement Group on
HMAT A64 Demosthenes on 16 July 1915 for Egypt and Gallipoli. He was struck down with lumbago and posted as a clerk in Cairo, as reported in the
Geelong Advertiser on 1 November 1915.
After the Gallipoli campaign he embarked for France. His mother received a cable on 1 June 1917, saying that his brother, Rifleman, Norman Leonard Kennedy, had been wounded, having joined the New Zealand forces twelve months before. Sergeant Leslie Kennedy returned to Australia, embarking 12 June 1919 on
HMT Port Darwin.
His name (Kennedy, L E) is listed on the Geelong College Memorial Tablet to those who served in World War I.
His brother,
Norman Leonard Kennedy (1893-1976), was also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p228 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives.)