Major Gary Kerr

RSM 9 Tpt Regt with the RACT banner

Port Operations Officer with Mary at Marchwood

Bundaberg, touring Australia

Author: Gary Kerr

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KERR Lee Gary
career soldier 1943-

Gary Kerr was born and raised in Brisbane’s Western Suburbs. His early life involved Rugby League at primary school, high school and club football for West Toowong and Western Suburbs; his other interests were Boy Scouts and Sea Cadets.

At 17 he joined the CMF with 41 Coy RAASC at Ashgrove whilst undertaking an apprenticeship in Sheet Metalwork at Commonwealth Engineering. On completing this apprenticeship in 1965 he left the CMF as a corporal and enlisted in the Regular Army.

After recruit training at Kapooka he was allocated to RAASC, completed corps training and was posted to RAASC Centre Puckapunyal where he regained his rank of corporal.   Next posting was Transport NCO in 1 Australian Civil Affairs Unit, raised in Sydney at the Army Intelligence Centre;  the unit went to Vietnam in 1967, but after three months he transferred to 2 Tpt Pl as a section commander.  

Returning to Australia in 1968, he was posted as an instructor at N Comd Trade Trg Centre Brisbane where he was promoted to sergeant in 1969. This was followed by postings over the next decade as: platoon sergeant 9 Coy RAASC Townsville; SSM 30 Tml Sqn Sydney; instructor/WSM Corps Trg Wing Army School of Transport Puckapunyal; SSM 5 Tpt Sqn Brisbane; instructor WO/NCO Wing Canungra; and RSM 9 Tpt Regt Sydney.

In 1988 he was commissioned as a captain and posted as Senior Instructor Army Maritime School in Sydney, and during this time was detached to the UK as the Port Operations Officer of Marchwood Military Port. On return to Australia he was Cadre Officer of 34 Water Tpt Sqn in Brisbane. In 1993 he was promoted to major and posted as OC Spt Wing and SO2 Pers/Log of 1st Training Group in Brisbane, followed in 1997 as Admin Officer in the School of Military Intelligence at Canungra. He retired from the army in 1998.

Since retiring his main interests have been travelling Australia with his caravan; and the Army Transport Association, in which he has been Secretary/Editor and Vice President. He also has interests in Military History and fine wines.

He married Mary in 1969 and they have four children: Lee, Ilsa, Ella and Glen; and five grandchildren.