The AIF Project

Martin Macklam James KERBY

Regimental number1364
Date of birth1886
Place of birthBallarat, Victoria
SchoolGlenville College, Ballarat, Victoria
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationEngineer
AddressRichmond, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation30
Height5' 7"
Weight173 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs A M Kerby, 84 Coppin Street, Richmond, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in the Citizen Military Forces, Ballarat; resigned.
Enlistment date10 February 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll10 January 1916
Place of enlistmentCasula, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentSapper
Unit nameMining Corps, Reinforcement 1
AWM Embarkation Roll number16/7/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 20 February 1916
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Tunnelling Company
FateKilled in Action 27 November 1916
Place of burialHersin Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot I, Row C, Grave No. 21), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
27
Medals

Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He went into "No Man's Land and assisted his officer to adjust a push-pipe. The leads had been cut in several places by shell fire, and he showed the greatest courage in adjusting them.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No 184
Date: 14 December 1916

Family/military connectionsBrothers: Major Edwin Thomas John KERBY, 8th Bn, returned to Australia, 20 December 1918; 51630 Pte Noble KERBY, Australian Motor Transport Section, returned to Australia, 8 October 1918; 2248 Driver Royal Richard KERBY, Australian Motor Transport Section, returned to Australia, 8 October 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Egypt to join the British Expeditionary Force (date not recorded); disembarked Marseilles, France, 5 May 1916.

Promoted Sergeant, 26 April 1916, and transferred to No 3 Tunnelling Company.

Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal, 27 September 1916.

Reported missing, 28 November 1916.

Now, 29 November 1916, reported 'Killed in action, 27 November 1916.'

Medals: Distinguished Conduct Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, KERBY Martin Macklam James

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