Difference between revisions of "Kenneth Myers Kroenert"
From Our Contribution
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| enlistmentdate = 3 Nov 1939 | | enlistmentdate = 3 Nov 1939 | ||
| rank = Private | | rank = Private | ||
− | | unit = | + | | unit = 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion |
| 1stembarkationdatefrom= 20 Apr 1940 | | 1stembarkationdatefrom= 20 Apr 1940 | ||
| 1stembarkationdateto= 19 May 1940 | | 1stembarkationdateto= 19 May 1940 | ||
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[[Category:POW ww2]] | [[Category:POW ww2]] | ||
[[Category:1941 POW ww2]] | [[Category:1941 POW ww2]] | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion]] |
[[Category:]] | [[Category:]] | ||
[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott ww2]] | [[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott ww2]] |
Revision as of 23:45, 6 June 2019
Personal Information | |
---|---|
Date of Birth | 18 May 1917 |
Place of Birth | Armadale, Western Australia |
Death | 15 Nov 1941 |
Place of Death | Germany |
Next of Kin | Father , Mr Carl Kroenert |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | WX581 |
Date of Enlistment | 3 Nov 1939 |
Rank | Private |
Unit/Formation | 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion |
Military Movement | |
1st Departure from Australia | |
Journey Dates | 20 Apr 1940 ‒ 19 May 1940 |
Transport Details | HMT Y3 Nevasa Fremantle to El Kantara, Egypt |
Transfers | |
Journey Dates | 10 Apr 1941 ‒ 12 Apr 1941 |
Transport Details | SS Pennland Alexandria, Egypt to Pireaus, Greece |
Journey Dates | 25 Apr 1941 ‒ 26 Apr 1941 |
Transport Details | SS Thurland Castle Megarda Greece, to Suda Bay Crete |
Post War Details | |
Fate |
POW Died of illness in Germany (now Poland) |
Monument(s) | Victoria Park Memorial |
Australian War Memorial | Australian War Memorial |
Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Contents
Pre War
War Service
After arriving in the Middle East, the 2/11th trained in Palestine and Egypt. A decision to reorganise Australian infantry brigades along British lines, with three battalions instead of four, meant the 2/11th was now part of the 19th Brigade, but it remained part of the 6th Division. The battalion went into action for the first time at Bardia on 5 Jan 1941 and, as part of the Allied advance into Italian-occupied Libya, subsequently fought at Tobruk on 21-22 Jan 1941, and to secure Derna airfield on 25 Jan 1941. It was advancing to the south of Benghazi when the Italians surrendered on 7 Feb 1941.
On 10 Apr 1941 they embarked in Alexandria harbour for Greece. The Allied forces, however, were unable to hold back the attacking Germans. The 2/11th withdrew from its initial positions at Kalabaka and remained on the move until it occupied rearguard positions at Brallos Pass a week later. It fought and slowed the Germans there on 24 April and then continued its withdrawal to Megara, where it was evacuated by sea on the night of 25 Apr 1941.
The battalion landed on Crete the next day. It was subsequently deployed with the 2/1st Battalion to defend Retimo airfield, which was held tenaciously for ten days following the landing of German paratroops on 20 May. German successes elsewhere on Crete, however, made surrender inevitable. Many 2/11th soldiers attempted to escape from Crete but only a relatively small number ultimately succeeded; most were taken prisoner. On ?? Jun 1941 Kenneth was listed as Missing, believed to be a prisoner of war, captured in ???. This was confirmed on ?? Oct 1941, and it was said that he was interred in Stalag ??? with his POW Number being ?????.
Kenneth died 15 Nov 1941, aged 24
Notes