Kenwood, Alan Sydney (Private, b.1916 - d.1942)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX47713 Private Alan Sydney Kenwood, 2/12 Field Ambulance, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia 1940-1942.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of two folders of material relating to Private Alan Sydney Kenwood.

Folder 1 of 2 contains ten letters [including envelopes], one postcard from Private Kenwood to his friend, Miss Mary “Mairie” Carr, and one letter from Major Richard Francis Kirby West to Miss Carr. Private Kenwood’s letters to Miss Carr are dated between 28 December 1940 and 13 November 1941, and were written while he was training and serving in New South Wales and the Northern Territory. In his letters, Private Kenwood writes about his successful farewell party, enjoying army life, joining the Army Medical Corps, having a busy time while on home leave, being assigned to the 2/12 Field Ambulance, his journey to Darwin, his impressions of Darwin, receiving gifts, participating in training manoeuvres, playing hockey, feeling ready for overseas service, having a pleasant 25th birthday, completing a strenuous route march, assisting in the Darwin Military Hospital, exploring in the local bush, having an ear infection, and washed out of their tents during wet season. Two of the letters also include pressed foliage that Private Kenwood collected. Major West’s letter to Miss Carr is dated 18 July 1942. In his letter, Major West shares that Private Kenwood was thought to have been taken as a prisoner of war, and that he had no more recent and specific information.

Folder 2 of 2 contains miscellaneous items relating to the service of Private Kenwood.
It consists of:
1x Christmas card from Private Kenwood to Miss Carr, Darwin, c December 1941, [includes envelope]
1x Christmas card depicting harvested wheat fields, [date unknown]
1x Handwritten poem, [author unknown], [date unknown]
1x Photograph depicting two boys, “Edwin Koach” and “Allan Stralton” [identities unknown], [date unknown]
1x Photograph depicting Private Kenwood in foreground and camp in Darwin in background, c 1941
1x Paper aeroplane with “Musso” [Mussolini], “Hitler” and “Chamberlain” written on one side, [date unknown]
1x Envelope addressed to Miss Carr, postmarked 16 March 1946

Private Alan Sydney Kenwood enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 3 September 1940, after previously serving in the militia. After a period of training, he was taken on strength to 2/12 Field Ambulance. Private Kenwood trained and served with this unit in Darwin, Northern Territory and Ambon, Netherlands East Indies. On 20 February 1942, Private Kenwood was presumed to have died after becoming a prisoner of war of the Japanese. He is commemorated at Ambon Memorial, Indonesia.