Corporal John Francis Kennedy of the 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion died on September 30th, 1945 in Avonsleigh, Victoria aged 27 after returning home from the Second World War but while still designated to the Victoria Line of Communication Recruit Reception and General Details Depot. He died in a car accident, when the car he was driving struck a tree stump. He was the last survivor of his brothers (Geoffrey and Laurence), both of which also tragically died young - Laurence (whose medals are also in our collection under VEMU2307) in Malaya during the war, and Geoffrey gored by a bull at home.J. F. Kennedy was a member of a local family who served in the Second World War and died tragically like his brothers, forming an important story of local community history.A set of five medals, including the 1939-45 Medal (a), the Defence Medal (b), the Rising Sun Badge (c), the 1939-1945 Star (d), and the Pacific Star (e). a) 1939-1945 Medal: A round, silver-coloured cupronickel medal 36 millimeters in diameter with a red, white, and blue vertically striped ribbon. The obverse relief shows the crowned effigy of George VI surrounded by a Latin legend text. The reverse relief shows a lion standing atop a defeated two-headed dragon. Lettering is also present on the edge. b) The Defence Medal: A round, silver-coloured cupronickel medal 36 millimeters in diameter with a green, orange and black vertically striped ribbon. The obverse relief shows the uncrowned effigy of George VI surrounded by a Latin legend text. The reverse relief shows the Royal Crown resting on an oak sapling, flanked by a lion and a lioness above stylised waves. Lettering is also present on the edge. c) Rising Sun Badge: The 1904-49 edition of the rising sun badge - a brass lapel badge centered on a crown with a semi-circle of sun rays radiating up from it. Below the crown is a scroll with text. d) 1939-1945 Star: A six-pointed star struck in yellow brass to fit in a 44 millimetre diameter circle. The obverse centres on the Royal Cypher, surrounded by a legend with a crown at the top. The reverse features the recipient's name and enlistment number. The ribbon is vertical stripes of (left to right) dark blue, red, and light blue. e) Pacific Star: A six-pointed star struck in yellow brass to fit in a 44 millimetre diameter circle. The obverse centres on the Royal Cypher, surrounded by a legend with a crown at the top. The reverse features the recipient's name and enlistment number. The ribbon is vertical stripes of (left to right) red, light blue, green, yellow, green, dark blue, red.a) Obverse, Legend: "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP:" (George 6th, by the grace of God, King of all the Britains and Emperor of India) Obverse, small text below the effigy: "PM" (the initials of Percy Metcalfe, the designer) Reverse: "1939 / 1945" Reverse, small text, left: "ECRP" (the initials of Edward Carter Preston, the designer) Edge: "VX38502 J. F. KENNEDY" b) Obverse Legend: "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP." (George 6th, by the grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India) Obverse, small lettering below the effigy: "HP" (the initials of Humphrey Paget and Harold Parker, the designers) Reverse, exergue: "THE DEFENCE / MEDAL" Reverse, top-left: "1939" Reverse, top-right: "1945" Edge: "VX38502 J. F. KENNEDY" c) Scroll: "AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH / MILITARY FORCES" d) Obverse, Royal Cypher: "GRI / VI" Obverse, Legend: "THE 1939 - 1945 STAR" Reverse: "VX38502 / J. F. KENNEDY" e) Obverse, Royal Cypher: "GRI / VI" Obverse, Legend: "THE PACIFIC STAR" Reverse: "VX38502 / J. F. KENNEDY"kennedy family, world war ii, world war two, second world war