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Donald A. Kerr

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Donald Alexander Kerr BA (10 April 1859 – 5 July 1919) was an Anglican minister and educator in South Australia, remembered for his period as headmaster of Pulteney Grammar School. His son, also Donald Kerr, was a highly regarded lawyer and legal scholar who survived three years as a stretcher-bearer at the front during World War I, and died after a foiled suicide.

History

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Kerr was born in Clare, South Australia in 1859, a son of (William) Isaac Kerr (c. 1829 – 16 June 1859),[1] of some local interest, historically.[2][3] [a] His mother Roberta Kerr (c. 1834 – 16 March 1861) also died young.[6] An order was raised for the guardianship of his children.[7]

He was educated at Stanley Grammar School in Watervale[1] and St Peter's College, matriculating in 1879.[8] He studied at the University of Adelaide, and was awarded his BA in 1883,[9] one of its first graduates, and was ordained in the Church of England in Adelaide, December 1883 and posted to the south-eastern mission.[10]

He served as minister of St Paul's church, Narracoorte, where he opened St Paul's Grammar School as headmaster in April 1884.[11] He suffered a breakdown in his health in November 1884.[12] Following the organisation of the Narracoorte, Lucindale, and Frances churches into an incumbency, a clergyman was appointed, who also took charge of the Grammar School[13] and Kerr was made assistant master at the Mount Gambier High School. He was forced by ill-health to return to Adelaide in August 1887.[14]

He was appointed a tutor at Prince Alfred College in 1888,[15] later second master, but resigned in 1891 on account of ill-health, and left for London by the ship Torrens for a "sea cure".[16] He returned in 1892 as a married man,[17] and resumed his duties at Prince Alfred's.[18]

In 1898 he replaced Rev. W. H. Howard as headmaster of Pulteney Street School.[19] He resigned in November 1900 due to ill-health, and was replaced by Rev. J. Benbow.[20] It was during his time as headmaster, in 1899, that he succeeded Canon Pollitt as Inspector of Church Schools in the Diocese of Adelaide.[21] serving to 1914.[22]

He conducted Glenelg Grammar School 1901[23]–1905, when the school was taken over by Rev. W. A. Moore, son of Rev. W. S. Moore.

As minister

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His service as an educator alternated with religious duties: he was ordained deacon in 1884 and served as assistant curate at various churches, such as Christ Church, Strathalbyn, in 1886, then as curate at Christ Church, North Adelaide, 1896-1898. He served as parish priest in various locations: Mount Pleasant, in 1899, St Paul's Church, Adelaide, in 1900, St Agnes' Church, Grange, from 1906, and Christ Church, Yankalilla 1907–1910,[24] St Luke's, Whitmore Square, in 1911 and Kapunda 1911–1916, visiting England in 1914 for the sake of his health, which was deteriorating. He left Kapunda for a Locum tenens position in Tasmania, but his health suffered and in 1918 he left for Brisbane,[25] and received a locum (for Rev. Walter Scott) at St Thomas's Church,[26] Toowong,[b] where he died a year later, and where his funeral service was conducted by Bishop Henry Le Fanu.[28]

Family

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Donald A. Kerr BA (1859–1919) married Emma Bevis (Beviss ?) Pope (died July 1939)[29] in London in late 1891. Emma was a sister of solicitors William (1846 – 27 August 1923) and Thomas Pope (died in Torquay 24 September 1938), and of Mary Pope, who married Henry Foote (died 1893) in 1885,[30] Edward Lay in 1895.[31] Mary Lay left a small fortune to the Kerr family in 1931.

They had one child:

  • Donald Kerr, MM LLD (1893 – 30 January 1928) enrolled with the First AIF, served overseas as an ambulance driver and was awarded the Military Medal in 1917, citing "conspicuous services"[32] He was a prominent lawyer, author of several treatises:
The Law of the Australian Constitution 1925
The Principle of the Australian Land Titles (Torrens) System 1927
The Law of the Australian Constitution 1928
He married Marjorie Jane Johns (1894–1968) in 1918 and had four children:
  • Donald Beviss Kerr (27 June 1919 – 15 December 1942) noted poet, killed in plane crash during WWII.
  • Margaret Beviss Kerr (19 December 1920[33] – )
  • Charles William Beviss Kerr (23 February 1922 – 1962)
  • David Ian Beviss Kerr (28 April 1924[34] – 23 April 2005)[35] later physiology researcher and academic, Sydney University.
He attempted suicide by opening the gas tap and slashing his wrists, but was still alive when admitted to hospital, where he died two days later.[36] He was due to present evidence to the Commonwealth Constitution Commission the following day,[37] having studied and written extensively on the subject. Other explanations for his last actions have been advanced.[38]
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Notes

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  1. ^ Among his siblings was a sister Williamina Kerr (c. 1855 – 1915),[4] who married Christian Ludwig Meyer in 1878, and an older (eldest ?) brother, Joseph Gordon Kerr, who died in 1882, aged 26.[5] No further details have been found.
  2. ^ The Presbyterian minister at Toowong was the well-known Rev. Richard Kerr,[27] but there is no reason to suspect a close family relationship.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Victor Harbor Notes". Blyth Agriculturist. Vol. XL, no. 2047. South Australia. 6 May 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Memories of a Manse". Blyth Agriculturist. Vol. XXXII, no. 1670. South Australia. 4 June 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 30 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "The Paths of Glory Lead but to the Grave". Blyth Agriculturist. Vol. XXXI, no. 1547. South Australia. 28 April 1939. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Family Notices". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXX, no. 21, 455. South Australia. 16 August 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 2 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Family Notices". South Australian Register. Vol. XLVII, no. 11, 003. South Australia. 18 February 1882. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Family Notices". The South Australian Advertiser. Vol. III, no. 835. South Australia. 22 March 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 30 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia. Not a typo; the initial "J" once served for "I".
  7. ^ "Supreme Court—In Banco". The South Australian Advertiser. Vol. III, no. 945. South Australia. 30 July 1861. p. 3. Retrieved 30 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "The University of Adelaide". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XVII, no. 4, 853. South Australia. 16 March 1880. p. 3. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "University of Adelaide". South Australian Register. Vol. XLVIII, no. 11, 354. South Australia. 5 April 1883. p. 5. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Ordination Service". Adelaide Observer. Vol. XL, no. 2203. South Australia. 22 December 1883. p. 26. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Advertising". The Narracoorte Herald. Vol. IX, no. 652. South Australia. 1 April 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Coming Events". The Narracoorte Herald. Vol. IX, no. 720. South Australia. 25 November 1884. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Narracoorte". The Border Watch. Vol. XXII, no. 2220. South Australia. 18 February 1885. p. 3. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Coming Events". The Narracoorte Herald. Vol. XII, no. 1004. South Australia. 30 August 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "School Examinations". Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. XX, no. 5717. South Australia. 21 December 1888. p. 3. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Religious News". Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. XXIII, no. 6443. South Australia. 15 May 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Latest Shipping". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XXIX, no. 8, 478. South Australia. 29 February 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Church Intelligence". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XXIX, no. 8, 458. South Australia. 5 February 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Pulteney Street Boys' School". South Australian Register. Vol. XLIII, no. 15, 985. South Australia. 5 February 1898. p. 5. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Personal". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XXXVII, no. 11, 140. South Australia. 30 November 1900. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Concerning People". South Australian Register. Vol. LXIV, no. 16, 446. South Australia. 29 July 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Personal". Kapunda Herald. Vol. L, no. 3, 738. South Australia. 23 January 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Advertising". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. XLIII, no. 13, 180. South Australia. 15 January 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 4 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Second Valley". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXV, no. 19, 840. South Australia. 14 June 1910. p. 10. Retrieved 6 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Personal". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CVIII, no. 15, 119. Tasmania, Australia. 10 April 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 7 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Social and Personal". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 14, 672. Queensland, Australia. 4 December 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 7 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "Death of Rev Richard Kerr". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 3 November 1932. p. 9. Retrieved 7 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Religious Notes". The Daily Mail (Brisbane). No. 5220. Queensland, Australia. 12 July 1919. p. 10. Retrieved 7 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Personal". Kapunda Herald. Vol. LXXV, no. 5, 104. South Australia. 20 July 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Family Notices". Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. XVII, no. 5055. South Australia. 13 August 1885. p. 2. Retrieved 4 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Family Notices". South Australian Register. Vol. LX, no. 15, 107. South Australia. 15 April 1895. p. 4. Retrieved 4 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "B2455: Kerr, Donald". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 19 April 1917. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  33. ^ "Family Notices". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXV, no. 23, 127. 22 December 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 2 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia. at "Okinya", Grange
  34. ^ "Family Notices". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXIX, no. 26, 008. 6 May 1924. p. 8. Retrieved 2 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ^ "Family notices". Adelaide Advertiser. 2005-04-25 – via Ryerson Index.
  36. ^ "A Brilliant Lawyer". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. XCIII, no. 26, 976. South Australia. 31 January 1928. p. 9. Retrieved 29 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "A Brilliant Lawyer". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. XCIII, no. 26, 976. South Australia. 31 January 1928. p. 9. Retrieved 4 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "An Extraordinary Accident". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXXXVI, no. 25. Tasmania, Australia. 30 January 1928. p. 4. Retrieved 4 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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