Sgt
Kenneth William Vear

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortejaar:
1893
Geboorteplaats:
Burwood, Victoria

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Fruitteler

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Australië
Strijdmacht:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Sergeant
Service nummer:
513
Dienstneming datum:
18/01/1916
Dienstneming plaats:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australië
Eenheden:
 —  Australian Infantry, 37th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
03/10/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Potsdam, Zonnebeke, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
24

Begraafplaats

White House Cemetery
Plot: 3
Rij: L
Graf: 7

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 2

#1 Dienstneming plaats
#2 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

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.

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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=
Gebruikte bronnen
Australian War Memorial, War Diary
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1345116?image=1
Gebruikte bronnen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/455057/vear,-kenneth-william/
Gebruikte bronnen
Mc Carthy C., Passchendaele Day-by-Day account, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018, London, pp. 110-114.
Gebruikte bronnen
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.
Gebruikte bronnen
National Archives of Australia
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=8397677&isAv=N
Gebruikte bronnen
The AIF-Project
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=308459
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/3rd-australian-division/
Gebruikte bronnen