People Australia

  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Donal Leo Kearney (1896–1981)

Donal Leo Kearney, n.d. photographer unknown

Donal Leo Kearney, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

ONAL LEO KEARNEY was born at Eulo, Queensland, on 4th December, 1896, the son of Mr. James Anderson Kearney and Mrs. Winifred Mary Kearney. He was educated at Mareeba, and joined the Bank’s staff at Atherton on 5th June, 1915, removing to Townsville in the following month.

Donal Kearney had been a lieutenant in the Mareeba Cadet Force at seventeen. At the age of twenty he enlisted in the A.I.F. (July, 1916) and left Australia as provisional sergeant with the 6th Reinforcements for the 41 st Battalion in December, 1916. He reverted to the ranks on arrival in England and joined his battalion in France in June, 1917, where he won promotion to corporal in the following August.

He was in action up to the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux on 22nd May, 1918, when he was wounded. After recovering in England, Donal Kearney joined the 11th Machine Gun Company just before the Armistice. He returned to Australia as sergeant in the Australian Army Pay Corps in September, 1919.

Additional Resources

Citation details

'Kearney, Donal Leo (1896–1981)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/kearney-donal-leo-21560/text31794, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Donal Leo Kearney, n.d. photographer unknown

Donal Leo Kearney, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

Life Summary [details]

Birth

4 December, 1896
Eulo, Queensland, Australia

Death

1981 (aged ~ 84)
Queensland, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
Military Service
Workplaces