Sgt
Kenneth William Vear
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1893 |
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Place of birth: Burwood, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Orchardist |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: 513 |
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Enlistment date: 18/01/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 37th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Potsdam, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Cemetery
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White House Cemetery Plot: 3 Row: L Grave: 7 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Sergeant Kenneth William Vear was part of the B Company, 37th Australiain Infantry AIF (10th Brigade, 3rd Australian Division). He was appointed corporal in April 1916, after which he left for England in June. He was promoted Lance corporal in November 1916 upon his arrival in France. In March 1917, he was promoted Sergeant.
During the Battle of Messines in June 1917 Sergeant Vear was wounded in action (gunshot wound to the cheek). He re-joined his unit on 10 August 1917.
On 3th October, Sergeant Vear, together with other commanding officers, went to inspect the area in which they were to attack the following day. On 4 October 1917 the 37th Battalion was to participate in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase of the Battle of Passchendaele. The battalion would be formed up just North of what used to be the village of Zonnebeke. On 3 October 1917 officers and NCO’s took the opportunity of reconnoitring the route from the bivouacking area to the assembly trenches for the upcoming attack the next day. The route was marked by tape by Lt. L.J. Robertson and was known as “K” track. At 9.45 p.m. the Battalion began the approach march. It took up positions roughly between Dochy Farm and Levi Cottages and was to advance through Judah House, Springfield, Seine and Beecham towards Tyne Cot.
According to the Burial Return Sheet of the CWGC, Sergeant Vears body was recovered near the Ypres-Zonnebeke Railroad and Potsdam (D.26.c.8.4.). De coordinats in his Service Record mention a burial place closer to Vampir Farm (D.26.a.3.5.). The eye witness testimonies in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files are somewhat contradictory. Some state they saw his fieldgrave. Other say they saw him going over the top/near the frontline and taken back wounded. Seargeant Vear is was reburied at White House Cemetery, where he is still remembered today.
During the Battle of Messines in June 1917 Sergeant Vear was wounded in action (gunshot wound to the cheek). He re-joined his unit on 10 August 1917.
On 3th October, Sergeant Vear, together with other commanding officers, went to inspect the area in which they were to attack the following day. On 4 October 1917 the 37th Battalion was to participate in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase of the Battle of Passchendaele. The battalion would be formed up just North of what used to be the village of Zonnebeke. On 3 October 1917 officers and NCO’s took the opportunity of reconnoitring the route from the bivouacking area to the assembly trenches for the upcoming attack the next day. The route was marked by tape by Lt. L.J. Robertson and was known as “K” track. At 9.45 p.m. the Battalion began the approach march. It took up positions roughly between Dochy Farm and Levi Cottages and was to advance through Judah House, Springfield, Seine and Beecham towards Tyne Cot.
According to the Burial Return Sheet of the CWGC, Sergeant Vears body was recovered near the Ypres-Zonnebeke Railroad and Potsdam (D.26.c.8.4.). De coordinats in his Service Record mention a burial place closer to Vampir Farm (D.26.a.3.5.). The eye witness testimonies in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files are somewhat contradictory. Some state they saw his fieldgrave. Other say they saw him going over the top/near the frontline and taken back wounded. Seargeant Vear is was reburied at White House Cemetery, where he is still remembered today.
Sources 8
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=vear&people_service_number=513&people_unit= Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial, War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1345116?image=1 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/455057/vear,-kenneth-william/ Sources used |
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Mc Carthy C., Passchendaele Day-by-Day account, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018, London, pp. 110-114. Sources used |
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McNicol N.G., The Thirty-Seventh : History of the Thirty-Seventh Battalion A.I.F. East Sussex: Naval and Military Press, East Sussex, pp.131-138. Sources used |
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National Archives of Australia https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=8397677&isAv=N Sources used |
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The AIF-Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=308459 Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/3rd-australian-division/ Sources used |