Tribute, Capt. Kenneth Mortimer

Historical information

A tribute to Captain Kenneth Malcolm Mortimer by his nephew Dr Owen Campbell Mortimer. Kenneth was born on the 9th October 1895 at Leneva near Wodonga and went to Agricultural High School in Wangaratta in 1912 before entering the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1913. He was killed in action on 20th July 1916, three months before his 21st birthday, at the Battle of Fleurbaix, Fromelles in France. His remains were unknown for 102 years when DNA testing confirmed the identity of nine Australian soldiers found buried in a mass grave near Pheasant Wood. The graves of these nine soldiers will be rededicated on July 19 2018.

Significance

Mortimer entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon on 10 March 1913 and was graduated early, along with the rest of his class, on 28 June 1915. Mortimer had been a member of the college's photography club and took numerous pictures of his fellow cadets. He was appointed as a Lieutenant with the 29th Battalion on 1 July 1915 and embarked with his unit for Egypt in November 1915. He was promoted to Captain in February 1916 and arrived in France four months later. Died (killed in action) on 20 July 1916 near Fromelles, France aged 20 years

Physical description

Grey plastic folder with clear front cover over image of young male.

Inscriptions & markings

KENNETH

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