Joseph Kearney
Collection
COLL-217
Archives and Special Collections Division, Memorial University of Newfoundland
March 1997
BIOGRAPHY
Joseph Francis Kieran Kearney was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, on September 8, 1921, the eldest of seven children born to William Kearney and Bridget Beer. He entered St. Bonaventure's College, St. John's, in 1927, where, in addition to his studies, he was involved in athletics. He left school before graduating to help support his family, as his father, a veteran of World War I, was becoming more and more disabled as a result of injuries and arthritis. In addition to Kearney's parents and their seven children, five orphaned cousins lived in the family home.
Kearney began his working career with the Newfoundland civil service in 1936, as a temporary messenger and customs clerk. In 1938 he joined the permanent staff of the Department of Natural Resources, and, except for a five-year hiatus during World War II, he remained with that department through its many incarnations and name changes until his retirement in 1983.
Even though he was only 18 (two years younger than the required age for enlistment), on March 28, 1940 Joe Kearney used a false birth certificate to become the fiftieth Newfoundlander to enlist; on April 14, 1940 he was one of 403 Newfoundlanders comprising the First Royal Artillery Contingent to leave Newfoundland for Europe. After a circuitous journey which took them from St. John's west to Port-aux-Basques and Saint John, New Brunswick, they soon arrived in England where they were stationed in Sussex. With the arrival of two additional contingents from Newfoundland, the three were united to become the 57th Newfoundland Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Kearney did not stay with the regiment for long. In August 1940 he volunteered for an elite commando service that would be specially trained to conduct small-scale raids behind enemy lines. Training took place at Galasheils in Scotland; of the twenty plus Newfoundlanders who originally volunteered only five made the final cut and Kearney was one of them. They were assigned to the 11th Scottish Commando unit and training continued at Arran, Scotland until January 31, 1941. Then they were transported to Egypt via the Cape of Good Hope, where they set up camp at Geneifa and became part of a commando brigade known as 'Layforce' under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Laycock. They were soon transferred to Cyprus.
The commando brigade was not assigned its first mission until June when they went ashore on the Syrian coast to reclaim the Kafr Badda Bridge on the Litani River. They were successful but sustained heavy losses. After this mission the brigade was disbanded, but the 11th Scottish Commando unit remained partially intact. Kearney was the only Newfoundlander to remain with the unit. It was given the green light for one more mission.
It was the idea of the new unit commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Keyes, to make a daring, and perhaps foolhardy, raid on the headquarters of Major-General Erwin Rommel (the Desert Fox), German commander of the North African campaign, with an aim to capturing the general and disrupting the German offensive. Rommel's headquarters was 250 miles behind German lines at Beda Littoria, Egypt. Joe Kearney was one of 53 men chosen to participate in this raid, scheduled for November 1941.
The mission began on November 10 when the commandos left Cyprus for the coast of North Africa. After a botched landing, in which several men drowned and others were unable to land, it was discovered that only 28 men had made it ashore. Despite this shortage of manpower and the loss of equipment during the landing. the mission went ahead. After several days hiding in a cave, and relentless rain, the men finally made it to the German camp. They managed to gain entry to the main building and probably would have blown it up, killing most or all of the German soldiers, but the rain had drenched everything, including the self-igniting incendiary devices they threw into the building, preventing them from exploding. Rommel was not at the camp at the time of the raid.
Kearney was one of the men who got out of the camp after the attack; they were unable to be evacuated by sea and tried to reach the Allied lines overland. On November 26 while attempting to reach Tobruk, Kearney and six comrades were captured at Mekili by Italian soldiers. He was held at Derna, Benghazi and Tripoli (Libya) for approximately six weeks before being incarcerated at Camp 66, a prisoner-of-war camp at Capua, Italy, in January 1942.
Joseph Kearney spent the rest of the war in a series of Italian, Austrian and German prisoner-of-war camps. He escaped and was recaptured four times before his final escape on April 29, 1945. He travelled overland for 50 miles before meeting up with the American Army on May 2. He was eventually reunited with his regiment and was formally discharged from the service on September 23, 1945.
When he did not return from the raid on Rommel's headquarters, Kearney was reported missing in action. His parents were notified of his status in a letter dated December 5, 1941; it was January 9, 1942 before they were notified that he was a prisoner-of-war. Kearney wrote to his parents regularly from the various prison camps, but his letters were often delayed in reaching their destination.
After discharge, Kearney returned to Newfoundland and re-entered the civil service. He took educational leave to obtain training as a draughtsman and then joined the Forestry Division of the Department of Natural Resources. In 1949 he transferred to the Crown Lands Division, and in 1975 became supervisor of crown titles. He retired in 1983.
Joseph Kearney married Dorothy Mahoney on November 5, 1947. They had three children: Donna (1950-), Joanne (1951-) and Francis (1954-1985). He died on September 1, 1987. Although a modest man when it came to his accomplishments, he readily accepted invitations to address local groups. On February 21, 1961 he appeared on the CBC television program Front Page Challenge to relate his war experiences.
SCOPE & CONTENT
Letters home from soldiers during wartime are one the few tangible connections between the soldier in the trenches and the family and friends left behind. The letters received are actually written by the soldier and relate his experiences in his own words (except for the occasional deletion by the official military censor). The letters often contain information about people met, friends wounded or killed in battle, food rations, clothing needs, impending furloughs or reports on past ones, or other daily activities. The letters sometimes contain the innermost feelings of the soldier: sorrow at the loss of a friend, the sadness of missing family members, the desire to return home, the hope that the war will end soon.
The letters home are usually from soldiers on active duty, either in training or at the front. This collection contains letters like these, but the largest number are from a soldier, Joseph Kearney, after he had been captured by the enemy and had been assigned to a prison camp. Some of them are in the form of postcards where the soldier had to select from a number of choices and cross out those not appropriate to the message he wished to communicate, but most are one-page handwritten letters. They convey Kearney's attempt to re-assure his parents that he is well and for them to keep faith that he will be home soon.
The collection also contains other letters, mainly to his parents from the British War Office, the Red Cross, the War Comforts Committee and from a number of family members and friends. There is a small amount of associated materials: clippings about Kearney and other Newfoundland soldiers, a booklet on Victoria Cross winners, a Newfoundland Coat of Arms. The collection should prove worthwhile to those interested in the lives of Newfoundland soldiers, prisoners-of-war during World War II.
PROVENANCE
This collection of the letters of Joseph Kearney and associated materials was given to the Centre for Newfoundland Studies by Donna Adams, Kearney's daughter, in November 1996.
The photographs, two letters, several clippings and the term papers were added by Adams in June 1997.
RESTRICTIONS
There are no restrictions on access to or use of these items. All patrons should be aware that copyright regulations state that any copy of archival material is to be used solely for the purpose of research and private study. Any use of the copy for any other purpose may require the authorization of the copyright owner. It is the patron's responsibility to obtain such authorization.
Patrons should also be aware that the copyright regulations require that records be kept of all copies made of materials deposited prior ro September 1, 1999 and that these records may be viewed by the author of the material, the copyright owner, or representatives of either.
EXTENT
16 centimetres textual material 7 photographs
ARRANGEMENT
Series one contains letters written by Joseph Kearney, mainly to his parents, but also to other people, relatives and friends who gave the letters to his parents. They are arranged by year and month written. The description includes the date, the place the letter was written from, the number of pages and any variations, such as typewritten copies or missing dates.
Series two contains letters written by other people, but in most cases containing information related to Joseph Kearney, and addressed to his parents. They include two letters written to Kearney in Europe by his parents, but undelivered and returned, letters from the British War Office, the British Red Cross, the Newfoundland War Comforts Committee and other government bodies and organizations. There are also a number of letters from family members and friends.
Series three contains several miscellaneous items, including a copy of a claim made by Kearney after the war for government benefits, a number of clippings relating to Kearney and other Newfoundlanders, and a university term paper written by Kearney's grand-daughter about his war experiences. There are also seven photographs of Kearney taken during the early years of the war.
SERIES & SUBSERIES
Series 1.0 Joseph Kearney Letters
1.01 19401.02 1941
1.03 1942
1.04 1943
1.05 1944
1.06 1945
Series 2.0 Other Correspondence
2.01 Letters to Joseph Kearney
2.02 Government and Official Correspondence
2.03 Correspondence from Family and Friends
2.04 Correspondence: Miscellaneous
Series 3.0 Other Matters
3.01 Canada. War Claims Commission
3.02 Clippings
3.03 Miscellaneous
3.04 Photographs
FILE LIST
1.0 Joseph Kearney Letters
1.01 1940
1.01.001 April 1940
- 16, mother, Truro, Nova Scotia, 2 pp.- 17, mother, Moncton, New Brunswick, postcard
- 17? (postmark April 23), mother, on board RMS Duchess of Richmond, letter, card, 1 p.
- 24, mother, Liverpool, Eng., 6 pp.
- 26, mother, Great Britain, telegram
- 30, mother, R. Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, ng., 4 pp.
1.01.002 May 1940
- 05, father, R. Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, Eng., 7 pp.- 14, mother, R. Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, Eng., 3 pp.
1.01.003 June 1940
- 11, mother, Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, Scotland, 3 pp.- 17, mother, Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, Scotland, 4 pp.
1.01.004 July 1940
- 12, mother, Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, Scotland, 3 pp.- 18, mother, GPO, Norwich, England, 4 pp.
- 29, mother, GPO, Norwich, England, 6 pp.
1.01.005 August 1940
- 03, mother, GPO, Norwich, England, 4 pp.- 19, mother, Galashiels, Scotland, 2 pp.
- 22, mother & father, Douglas, Scotland, souvenir letter card of Douglas,
1 p.
1.01.006 September 1940
- 03, mother & father, Isle of Arran, Scotland, 6 pp.- 11, mother, Isle of Arran, Scotland, 5 pp.
- 20, mother, Brechim, Scotland, 7 pp.
1.01.007 October 1940
- 05, mother, Arran, Scotland, 6 pp.- 06, mother, Arran, Scotland, 4 pp.
- 20, mother, Arran, Scotland, 4 pp.
- 27, mother, Arran, Scotland, 4 pp.
1.01.008 November 1940
- 05, Rita, Arran, Scotland, 4 pp.- 14, mother & father, Arran, Scotland, 5 pp.
- 22, mother, Arran, Scotland, 4 pp.
1.01.009 December 1940
- 02, mother, St. John's, Avon Road, Devizes, 4 pp.- 10, mother, Arran, Scotland, 3 pp.
- Christmas card from Joe, "On active service", nd (probably 1940, as he was a prisoner by Christmas 1941)
1.02 1941
1.02.001 January 1941
- 02, mother, address cut out by censor, 6 pp.- 10, sans origine, telegram, 1 p.
- 14, father, Glasgow, Scotland, telegram, 1 p.
- 14, father, Lay force, MEF, 7 pp. & 2 pp. typescript
- 25, father, c/o APO, 405, 3 pp.
- 30, mother, c/o APO, 890, 1 p.
1.02.002 February 1941
- 23, mother, c/o APO, 890, 2 pp.1.02.003 March 1941
- 06, mother, c/o APO, 809, 2 pp.1.02.004 April 1941
- 04, mother, Lay force, Middle East Forces, 9 pp.- 18, mother, Lay force, Middle East Forces, 3 pp.
1.02.005 June 1941
- 29, mother & father, Lay force, MEF, 2 pp.
1.02.006 July 1941
- 08, mother & father, Lay force, MEF, 6 pp. [page 2 missing]- 19, mother, Lay force, MEF, 3 pp.
- 29, mother & father, Lay force, MEF, 3 pp.
1.02.007 August 1941
- 07, mother, Lay force, MEF, 3 pp.- 14, mother & father, Lay force, MEF, 3 pp.
- 26, mother, Lay force, MEF, 3 pp.
1.02.008 September 1941
- 07, mother, Lay force, MEF, 2 pp.- 13, mother & father, Lay force, MEF, 2 pp.
- 21, mother & father, Lay force, MEF, 2 pp.
- 28, mother & father, Lay force, MEF, 2 pp.
1.02.009 October 1941
- 02, mother, Lay force, MEF, 3 pp. [attached to this letter is a note dated September 2, 1942 from the Regimental Paymaster]- 14, mother, Lay force, MEF, 2 pp.
- 21, mother, Lay force, MEF, 2 pp.
1.02.010 November 1941
- 07, mother, Lay force, MEF, 2 pp.1.03 1942
1.03.001 January 1942
- undated, mother, sans origine, "Best Wishes for Christmas and New Year", telegram, 1 p.- 15, mother, Campo 66, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
- undated [postmark Geneva January 21, 1942], mother, form postcard, 1 p.
1.03.002 February 1942
- undated [postmarks February 10 & 11], mother, P. G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.- 08, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 13, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
- 17, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 21, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
- 25, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
1.03.003 March 1942
- 08, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 19, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
- 22, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 29, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
1.03.004 April 1942
- 12, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 19, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 26, Mr. Fraser, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 26, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
1.03.005 May 1942
- 03, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 25, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 31, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- undated, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p. [typescript and carbon copy, and form from Apostolic Delegation, Ottawa] - mentions Mother's Day
1.03.006 June 1942
- 07, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 14, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 21, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 28, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
1.03.007 July 1942
- 05, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 26, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
1.03.008 August 1942
- 08, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.- 23, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
1.03.009 September 1942
- 06, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.1.03.010 October 1942
- 04, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.1.03.011 November 1942
- 02, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.- 08, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 15, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 22, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 24 [postmark], mother, Geneva, form postcard, 1 p.
- 27, mother, P.G. 59, Italy, Christmas greetings, 1 p.
1.03.012 December 1942
- 06, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.- 13, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 20, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
- 27, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
1.04 1943
1.04.001 January 1943
- 10, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 17, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 24, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
- 31, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
1.04.002 February 1943
- 07, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 21, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
- 27, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
1.04.003 March 1943
- 14, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 21, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
1.04.004 April 1943
- 11, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.- 18, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
- 25, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
1.04.005 May 1943
- 09, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.- 16, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, 1 p.
- 23, mother & father, P.G. 59, Italy, postcard, 1 p.
1.04.006 June 1943
- 12, mother & father, P.G. 85, Italy, 1 p.- 18, mother & father, P.G. 85, Italy, 1 p.
- 24, mother & father, P.G. 85, Italy, 1 p.
1.04.007 July 1943
- 02, mother & father, P.G. 85, Italy, postcard, 1 p.- 12, mother & father, P.G. 85, Italy, 1 p.
- 28, mother & father, P.G. 85, Italy, 1 p.
1.04.008 August 1943
- 12, mother & father, P.G. 85, Italy, 1 p.1.04.009 October 1943
- 14, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Austria, postcard, 1 p.- 24, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Austria, 1 p.
1.04.010 November 1943
- 15 [postmark], mother & father, Stalag 18A, Austria, 1 p.- 10, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Austria, 1 p.
1.04.011 December 1943
- 16, Kitty (Mrs. William Burt), Stalag 18A, Austria, 1 p.- 17 [postmark][top line missing] Stalag 18A, Austria, 1 p.
1.05 1944
1.05.001 March 1944
- 04, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, Red Cross, 1 p.- 31, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
1.05.002 April 1944
- 01, Alice Kearney, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.- 23, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
- 30, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
1.05.003 May 1944
- 02, Mary & Don Crawford, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.- 27, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.
1.05.004 June 1944
- 10, Kitty & Bill Burt, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.- 10, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.
- 17, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
1.05.005 July 1944
- 03, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.- 16, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
- 30, Alice Kearney, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
1.05.006 August 1944
- 06, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.- 14, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.
- 21, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.
- 27, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
- 30, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.
1.05.007 November 1944
- postmark November, top line missing, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.- 19, Mrs. Frank White (Brooklyn NY), Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
- 19, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.
- 26, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.
1.05.008 December 1944
- 17, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.1.06 1945
1.06.001 January 1945
- 01, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, postcard, 1 p.- 14, mother & father, Stalag 18A, Germany, 1 p.
1.06.002 May 1945
- 10, mother & father, Stalag 7A, Munich, Germany, 1 p.- 15, mother & father, England, 1 p.
- 16, Kearney, England, telegram, 1 p.
- 20, mother & father, Aldershot, England, 4 pp.
- 24, mother & father, Aldershot, England, 2 pp.
1.06.003 June 1945
- 04, mother & father, Lamlash, Arran, Scotland, 4 pp.- 28, mother & father, London, England, 3 p
1.06.004 July 1945
- 03, mother & father, Avon Road, Devizes, England, 4 pp.- 10, mother & father, Avon Road, Devizes, England, 3 pp.
2.0 Other Correspondence
2.01 Letters to Joseph Kearney (undelivered & returned)
2.01.001 May 4, 1943 from "Mom" to P.G. 59, Italy, 2 pp.
2.01.002 June 6, 1943 from "Dad" to P.G. 59, Italy, 2 pp.
2.02 Government and Official Correspondence
2.02.001 Newfoundland Government
- December 5, 1941 to William Kearney from Secretary for Defence reporting "your son Gunner Joseph Francis Kevin Kearney #970050 is missing...", 1 p. [typescript)]- December 5, 1941 to William Kearney from Governor Humphrey Walwyn expressing "my deepest sympathy in your anxiety and grief for your son...", 1 p. [typescript]
- December 6, 1941 to Mrs. Kearney from Eileen Walwyn, wife of the Governor, expressing sympathy, 1 p. [typescript]
- January 10, 1942 to Mrs. Kearney from Claude Fraser, Department of Natural Resources expressing "sincere relief ... your son's safety", 1 p. [typescript]
2.02.002 War Office, Great Britain
- January 9, 1942 to W. Kearney from Under Secretary of State for War, Liverpool, England reporting son "now a prisoner of war", telegram, 1 p.- January 15 1942, to W. Kearney from The War Office, Liverpool, England, confirmation son is "prisoner of war in Italian hands", 1 p. [typescript]
- July 15, 1944 to William Kearney from War Office, London, England, 1 p. [typescript]
- June 14, 1945 to William Kearney from War Office, Liverpool, England, 1 p. [typescript]
2.02.003 Newfoundland War Comforts Committee, London
- May 11, 1942 to Mrs. Kearney from Edith Job, 2 pp.- October 2, 1942 to Mrs. Kearney from Edith Job, 2 pp.
- January 24, 1943 to Mrs. Kearney from Edith Job, 2 pp.
2.02.004 British Red Cross
- October 20, 1942 to W. Kearney from British Red Cross, London, England, 2 pp. [typescript]- May 31, 1943 to W. Kearney from British Red Cross, London, England, 1 p. [typescript]
2.02.005 External Affairs, Ottawa, Canada
- July 3, 1944 to Mrs. Kearney 1 p., [typescript]2.02.006 Dominion of Newfoundland. Trade Commissioner's Office, England
- January 19, 1945, to William Kearney, 1 p. [with typescript]2.03 Correspondence from Family and Friends
2.03.001 May 8, 1940, Dear Aunt Bride, US Marine Hospital, Chelsea, Mass., your nephew Pat, 4 pp.
2.03.002 Claude Fraser, St. John's
- May 18, 1940, to Mr. Kearney, 2 pp.2.03.003 Sympathy card from "Cousin Nell & family", postmarked December 31, 1941
2.03.004 Jack Reynolds, Middle East Force
- February 24, 1942, to Mrs. Kearney, 2 pp.- January 17, 1944, to Mrs. Kearney, 1 p.
2.03.005 August 27, 1942, to Mrs. Kearney from Burt, Devizes, [Scotland] telegram, 1 p.
2.03.006 Ethel (Mrs. J. M.) Walsh, Montreal
- October 10, 1942, to Mrs. Kearney, 2 pp. [typescript]2.03.007 Harry (Hank) Wallin
- May 13, 1944, to Mrs. Kearney from Toronto, Ontario, 5 pp.- October 22, 1944, to Mrs. Kearney from Halifax, Nova Scotia, 6 pp.
- November 02, 1944, to Mrs. Kearney from Halifax, Nova Scotia, 4 pp.
2.03.008 George Harrison, Eastbourne, Sussex, England
- March 18, 1945, to Mrs. Kearney, 1 p.2.03.009 Brother Lawlor, Mount Saint Francis Monastery, St. John's
- June 26, 1945, to Mrs. Kearney from 1 p.2.03.010 Others
- Thank you note to Mr. & Mrs. Kearney from Alice Broderick for mass offered for Wallace Broderick, nd- Christmas card signed "Mary & Dan"
2.04 Correspondence: miscellaneous
2.04.001 March 24, 1938, Dear Miss Baird (Betty) from Mrs. Louie Cooke, 99 Bond Street, St. John's, 3 pp.
2.04.002 November 26, 1944, Dear Rita Baird from Roy D. Spooner, Orkneys, Great Britain, 2 pp.
3.0 Other Matters
3.01 Canada. War Claims Commission
3.01.001 Joseph Kearney claim, File 3903 AA [photocopy, 2 copies]
3.02 Clippings
3.02.001 "Joseph Kearney" picture and brief note, nd
3.02.002 "Newfoundlanders fight in Syria" about Jack Reynolds, nd
3.02.003 Training with Britain's Commandoes", nd
3.02.004 "How 'Honor' came to John Veitch", nd, Blue and Gold, January 1944, pp. 3-6, page 4 story on John Veitch
3.02.005 "Nfld. Commando Three Years as War Prisoner : Pte. Joe Kearney returned to England", The Evening Telegram, May 18, 1945, p. 3
3.02.006 "Civil service veteran retires after 47 years", Joseph Kearney's retirement, The Daily News, 1983
3.02.007 "Joe Kearney in daring raid to capture Germany's top field marshall", "Veteran in Action" by Herb Wells in The Metro, March 16, 1986, section B, p. 1
3.02.008 "From the Files : 50 years ago January 10, 1942", The Evening Telegram, January 10, 1992
3.02.009 "From the Files : May 18, 1945, The Evening Telegram, May 18, 1995
3.02.010 "Tracing Relatives", The Evening Telegram, nd
3.03 Miscellaneous
3.03.001 The Victoria Cross, a booklet belonging to Rita Baird
3.03.002 Certificate of Birth for William Patrick Baker, born January 21, 1925, dated January 30, 1943.
3.03.003 Copy of Newfoundland Coat of Arms.
3.03.004 "Joe Kearney and the 11th Scottish Commando" by Riley-Michelle Adams [grand-daughter of Joseph Kearney], History 1001 term paper, March 15, 1994
3.04 Photographs
3.04.001 Newfoundland signal trainees with officers outside Redford Barracks, Bollington, Edinburgh, May 1940: Joseph Kearney (middle row, 5 from left), [postcard, bw, 13.1 x 8 cm]
3.04.002 Joseph Kearney (in England or Scotland 1940), [postcard, bw, 8 x 13.1 cm]
3.04.003 Joseph Kearney (l) and Aiden Abbott (r), a fellow Newfoundland soldier (possibly in Scotland 1940), [bw, 5.6 x 8.2 cm, discoloured]
3.04.004 Joseph Kearney (l) and John Pike (r), a fellow Newfoundland soldier (possibly in Scotland 1940), [bw, 5.7 x 8.2 cm]
3.04.005 Joseph Kearney (r) and Robert Thompson (l) of New Zealand on leave in London, England, Christmas 1940, [postcard, bw, 8 x 13.1 cm]
3.04.006 Joseph Kearney (front row, far right) in North Africa with other soldiers (possibly members of the 11th Scottish Commando unit, 1941), [bw, 7.9 x 5.5 cm]
3.04.007 Joseph Kearney in North Africa, 1941 [bw, 10.5 x 15.3 cm]
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February 4, 2009
