NEPTUNE'S POST BAG LETTER IN BOTTLE REACHES ITS DESTINATION.

Driver Leo Kennedy, of the Ist Royal Australian Bridging Train, which left Melbourne on June 3, when about 200 miles beyond West Australia wrote the following letter to his mother, Mrs. R. J. Kennedy, of "Corio," Grosvenor street, Moonee Ponds, and enclosing it in a bottle, dropped it overboard from the transport:

On the Briny, 8/16/15.

Dear Mother, This is a letter that you may get perchance. We are 200 miles from Albany South, and I am dropping it overboard. We have had a fairly good trip, and have lost only a few horses. In another month or so we will be at the Germans or Turks, and, I hope, will be assisting to exterminate them. To-day has been exceptionally rough. Love to all from LEO.

This letter was enclosed in an envelope on which was written:-"Will the finder of this letter be so kind as to forward it to the address given here." On Friday last, Mrs. Kennedy received the above letter, accompanied by the following:-

The letter was in good order and condition, was duly received by Mrs. Kennedy by post last Friday. It was accompanied by the following communication, which sufficiently explains the manner in which it came to hand in Western Australia, and was in turn sent on to the mother of the writer:

"Manjimup," Western Australia. September 18, 1915.

This letter was found in a bottle on 14th September on the south coast of West Australia, at the mouth of the Donelly River, by George Giblett, sen., of "Manjimup House," Manjimup, Western Australia. The letter was stamped, and the stamp I am using is the one that was originally on the letter. I have much pleasure in carrying out the wishes of the writer. Yours respectfully, G. GIBLETT, Sen.

NEPTUNE'S POST BAG. (1915, October 7). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 16, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74590319

TROOPER LEO KENNEDY.

Trooper Leo Alphonsus Kennedy was killed in action in Palestine on November 7th. Deceased was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Kennedy, of 'Corio,' in Grosvenor-street, Moonee Ponds, and grandson of Mr. Thomas Kennedy, of Kinkora, Linton. He was educated at St. Mary's Boys' School, Geelong. He enlisted on May 24th, 1915, and sailed on June 3rd of the same year with the First Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train. He took part in the landing at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli; El Arish, Suez Canal and Sinai, and on disbandment of his unit, had the opportunity of returning home, but declined, and transferred to the 12th  Light Horse Regiment serving in Palestine. R.I.P.

TROOPER LEO KENNEDY. (1917, December 27). Tribune (Melbourne, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 7. Retrieved June 17, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154377676

Mr. Leo. Kennedy, son of Mr. E. G. Kennedy, 18 Grosvenor street, Moonee Ponds, has been killed in Palestine.

ROLL OF HONOUR. (1917, November 29). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning. Retrieved May 30, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74604445

Extracts from Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Correspondence.

He was about 5 ft 6 ins in height, fair complexion, thick set was about 21 years of age and was a native of Moonee Ponds, Victoria and left Australia with the Naval Bridging Train.  He was struck by a bullet in the left shoulder on the 5th of November 1917 and was killed at Sheria. (Eyewitness).  Informant E W Collins, Downey St, Alexandra.

H Lockman
HMAT "Plassy"
25/10/19
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 Came over with 1st Bridging Train, short man, fair about 22 years of age.  I saw him killed by Machine Guns bullet in left shoulder  About mid-day on 17/11/17 we were dismounting prior to going into action as supports for Infantry at Schurea, Palestine, when he was killed.  I do not know where buried but Stretcher Bearer took body back from where he fell.  Refer to Cpl F Foley, Belliggen, NSW who buried him.
Informant: Sgt H G Blanch
Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, NSW

AD Simpson
HMAT Suevic
10/9/19

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About 5 ft 7 ins, fair, 28 to 30 years of age.  I saw him killed at Tel-el-Sheira, called "Ken".  He was alongside of me and a bullet struck him on neck near shoulder, he only lived about ten minutes.  I saw him buried near where he fell and a cross was put over the grave with his name and number.

Informant: Trooper A Burrows, c/o Mrs Yeo
PO Kanowindra, NSW

A D Simpson
HMAT Suevic
10/9/19

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