All the Broken Soldiers

To the Australian Army, Private Lawrence Nicholas Kennedy was NX21854, a soldier who served for 1907 days with the 2/4th Australian Army Field Ambulance in Australia, the Middle East, the Kokoda Track and New Guinea during World War II. With older brother, Bill by his side, the Kennedy boys experienced the adventure and the joy, the loss and the despair of war – like too many others before and since.

To those who knew Nick Kennedy after the war, he was a dedicated and professional psychiatric nurse.

To the author, he was her gentle Uncle Nick, remembered as a kind, funny and generous man who seemed older than his years. The small diary he kept during World War II helped her understand why that was so. Kennedy’s words and photographs tell the harrowing and compelling story of one young man who went to war – not to kill the enemy, but to save his fellow soldiers – only to return home forever changed by the challenges, hardships and tragedy he experienced.

All the Broken Soldiers provides a rare insight into an aspect of war fought by soldiers equipped with little more than a basic medical kit and a Red Cross armband … those who cared for the broken soldiers that war leaves behind.

‘Private Kennedy’s War is brought to life through precious diaries carefully recorded during World War II. This beautifully written book captures the essence of courage, compassion, and true Aussie grit through the eyes of a quiet, unassuming hero who devoted his life to saving lives through the war and beyond. A great read that gives a greater understanding of past generations and the hardships of the war years. Highly recommended. ’