General Notes

Private Robert Emmett Kinchington 2875 (later 2875A), 1st Pioneer (later 3rd) Battalion of Waverley, NSW. An engineer prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney.

KINCHINGTON, Robert Emmett (aka CONMEE Robert Emmett)
Service no 2875 -
Private - 3rd Battalion
Born Longreach, QLD
Son of Mrs. KINCHINGTON of Auburn, NSW
Occupation prior to enlistment Engineer
Enlisted 27 June 1916 at Sydney, NSW
Served in France
Died of Septic Pneumonia whilst on furlough at International Hotel, Killarney, Ireland on the 6th February 1919
Buried New Cemetery Killarney.
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He was one of the Parramatta and District Soldiers who served in the Great War
KINCHINGTON, Robert Emmett.
Rank: Private.
Regiment or Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 3rd Battalion.
Age at death: 25.
Date of Death: 06-February-1919. Service No: 28755.
Supplementary information: Son of Mrs. Ellen Kinchington, of 40 Junction Rd., Summer Hill, Sydney, who was born in Queensland.
Born at Arabac, Longreach, Queensland.
Occupation on enlistment, Engineer.
Age on enlistment; 23 years 11 months.
Served in France. Initially enlisted under the name George Emmett Kinchington, later changed to correct name.
Next of kin details; (mother) Mrs Nellie Kinchington, 90 Northumberland Road, Auburn, Sydney, NSW.
Address on enlistment, 16 Waverley Street, Waverley, NSW.
Place and date of enlistment, Sydney, NSW. 27-June-1916.
Weight, 136 lbs. Height, 5 feet, 7 inches.
Complexion, fair. Eyes, hazel. Hair, fair.
Died of Septic Pneumonia at 4 am in the International Hotel, Killarney.
Buried in an elm coffin with brass fittings on the same day he died by Reverend Father D O’Sullivan. ‘Immediately upon receipt of a telegram from the landlord of the International Hotel, Killarney, notifying Pte Kinchington’s death, a representative from the headquarters was sent to Ireland to make appropriate funeral arrangements. On his arrival, however, he learnt that, acting under instructions from a civilian Doctor, the landlord of the hotel had taken upon himself the responsibility of having the remains of Private Kinchington interred a few hours after his death. The explanation given by the landlord was that, as death was due to Septic Pneumonia in a malignant form immediate burial was due as a medical necessity. The landlord of the hotel and the doctor failed to notify the Military Authorities at Killarney of the death, and had it not been for the action of a few members of the Australian Imperial Force who were on leave in Killarney and heard of the funeral at the last moment the A.I.F. would not have been represented at the funeral.
The following brothers of the late soldier were in touch with these Headquarters throughout, Lieut. Patrick Kinchington, Empire Hotel, Vincent Square, London, and No 6823 Pte Vincent Kinchington, 3rd Battalion, A.I.F. France; and one brother No 6823 Pte V Kinchington, has been granted facilities to proceed to Ireland to see his brothers grave upon which he will erect the standard cross this day.’
A Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone was erected over the grave in 1934. The original inscription on his headstone was to have been “Mild and gentle as he was brave, when the sweetest love of his life he gave, think of him still as the same I say, he is not dead—he is just away.” This was shortened in 1922 to “Mild and gentle as he was brave, the sweetest love of life he gave.”
Grave or Memorial Reference: R.C. ground, North-East part. Cemetery: Killarney New Cemetery, County Kerry.