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Medal - L. A. Kennedy WW2 Medals, Australian Government

  • The obverses (face or front side) of the four medals detailed in this entry, arranged left-to-right a, b, c, d.

    Medal Obverses

  • The reverses (tail or rear side) of the four medals detailed in this entry, arranged left-to-right a, b, c, d.

    Medal Reverses

  • The edge of a, the older Australia Service medal, showing inscribed text.

    Australia Service Medal Edge (b)

  • The edge of b, the newer Australia Service medal, showing inscribed text.

    Australia Service Medal Edge (a)

  • The obverses (face or front side) of the four medals detailed in this entry, arranged left-to-right a, b, c, d.
  • The reverses (tail or rear side) of the four medals detailed in this entry, arranged left-to-right a, b, c, d.
  • The edge of a, the older Australia Service medal, showing inscribed text.
  • The edge of b, the newer Australia Service medal, showing inscribed text.

Historical information

Private Laurence Alfred Kennedy died of illness in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Malaya on July 7th, 1942, aged 22. He was posted missing from the 8th Division after they retreated across the causeway to Singapore, and no information about his fate was retrieved until at least 1945. His two brothers (Geoffrey and John) would both also suffer tragic deaths - Geoffrey gored by a bull at home and John (whose medals are also in our collection, listed under VEMU2306) killed in a car accident soon after returning to Australia.

Significance

L. A. 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.

Physical description

A set of four medals, including two identical 1939-45 Australia Service Medals (a/b), a 1939-1945 Star (c), and a Pacific Star (d).

a/b) Australia Service Medals: A round silver medal 36 millimetres in diameter with a [ribbon]. The obverse bears the crowned effigy of King George VI, surrounded by the legend inscription. The reverse shows the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Australia surrounded by words. Lettering with the recipient's name and enlistment number is also engraved in the edge.
a) Has marginally more aging, and its ribbon is vertical stripes of (left to right) dark blue, red, white, red, light blue, identical to that on d.
b) Appears newer, and its ribbon is vertical stripes of (left to right) red, light blue, green, yellow, green, dark blue, red.

c) 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.

d) 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) dark blue, red, white, red, light blue, identical to that on the b.

Inscriptions & markings

a/b)
Obverse: "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)
Reverse: "THE AUSTRALIA SERVICE MEDAL / 1939-1945"
Edge: "VX46024 L. A. KENNEDY"

c)
Obverse, Royal Cypher: "GRI / VI"
Obverse, Legend: "THE 1939 - 1945 STAR"
Reverse: "VX46024 / L. A. KENNEDY"

d)
Obverse, Royal Cypher: "GRI / VI"
Obverse, Legend: "THE PACIFIC STAR"
Reverse: "VX46024 / L. A. KENNEDY"

Subjects

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