Thread: WW1 Binoculars attributed to Lt Col Ernest Arthur Kendall

I bought these binoculars last week. They belonged to Lt Col Ernest Arthur Kendall

His eldest son Ernest was born on 30 August 1876 at Ambleside, Westmorland, England, and was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, the Melbourne Veterinary College whose teaching staff he joined in 1897, and the University of Melbourne (B.V.Sc., 1911) where he was a temporary lecturer in veterinary medicine and obstetrics in 1909-10. In 1901 he joined the public service as a veterinary officer in the Department of Agriculture, becoming assistant chief veterinary officer in 1908. On 9 February 1910 he married Alma Cresswell Connelly at All Saints Pro-Cathedral, Bendigo.

Kendall was keenly interested in the volunteer forces of Victoria. Joining the Victorian Mounted Rifles as a private in April 1897, he was commissioned captain in the Australian Army Veterinary Corps and as veterinary officer, Victorian Mounted Rifles, in October. During the South African War he was responsible for the creation and organization of the veterinary section of the 5th Victorian contingent, 1st Australian Regiment, and saw active service. Promoted major, A.A.V.C., in January 1904, he was appointed principal veterinary officer, 3rd Military District, in April. In November 1913 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel.

On the outbreak of World War I Kendall became acting director of veterinary services in the central administration; in October 1915 he joined the Australian Imperial Force as lieutenant-colonel and senior veterinary officer, 2nd Australian Remount Unit. He served in Egypt and France. Promoted deputy director of veterinary services and temporary colonel in February 1916 (confirmed in February 1918), he was mentioned in dispatches and appointed C.M.G. in December 1917. He returned to Australia in 1919.

Resuming his career in the Department of Agriculture, Kendall succeeded W. A. N. Robertson as chief veterinary officer in August 1926. After considerable criticism of the Melbourne milk supply, in 1933 Kendall chaired an investigating committee and as first chairman of the resulting Milk Board made his outstanding contribution as a public servant in Victoria.

Kendall helped to form the Veterinary Association of Victoria in 1913, was secretary until 1924 and president in 1928 and 1929. A leading Freemason, he enjoyed golf and gardening. He died at North Brighton of coronary vascular disease on 21 March 1938 and was buried in Melbourne general cemetery, survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons.

The seller had 2 binoculars, the others had his name engraved on the case. These ones dont have a makers mark, but when you wind them out, "military model" is professionally engraved on them. From the limited amount of information available, there was a major shortage of binoculars in ww1 and the army took donations from the civilian population. As these are not high powered, I am presuming this is the case with these ones.

Ok , sounds like we can ditch the General Hospital if we have the words 10 Battalion. Will go and do some looking.