As a prisoner of the Japanese later, he saw many comrades die in cruel conditions at Changi or on the Thai-Burma railway.

He was determined to survive what became a horrific war, but his experiences coloured the rest of his life.

For 60 years he devoted much of his spare time to helping war veterans, their widows and children through Albury Legacy and the RSL.

As usual, Mr Kennedy, 90, had intended to travel again to Melbourne for the Anzac Day march tomorrow to join the dwindling band of old soldiers of the 2/29 Infantry Battalion.

He died suddenly at his North Albury home on Friday evening, leaving his wife, Jeanie, a son and daughter and two grandchildren.

James Archibald Kennedy was born in Perth in 1916.

He moved to the Border in 1930 and left Albury High School to work for the Gilbert and George Roxburgh, accountants in 1933, when he turned 17.

At first he worked from 7am to 7pm for five shillings (50c) a week, cycling to jobs such as collecting rents, checking fuel levels in service stations or helping out at the Albury sheep saleyards.

In 1939 he was joined by John Roxburgh, two years younger and son of the firm’s founder but already a friend from school days.

In 1940, aged 23 and 21 respectively, they enlisted for service overseas.

As signallers with the 2/29, they were posted to Malaya in August 1941, when there were growing fears of a war with Japan.

When the Japanese struck Malaya in December, the 2/29 Battalion was bombed but two weeks later the men were rushed to repel a landing at Muar River.

Australian and Allied soldiers were forced to retreat in the face of overwhelming odds.

Mr Kennedy and Mr Roxburgh evaded capture as they crossed swamps and jungle and, guided by the stars, rejoined what was left of their battalion and the 2/19 Battalion.

All entered prison camps when Singapore surrendered on February 15, 1942, a day Mr Kennedy marked with a minute’s silence for the next 65 years.

Undoubtedly the worst period of more than three years in captivity was eight months on the railway and the tall, athletic Mr Kennedy, dropped from 67kg to 47kg.

After returning home in late 1945, Mr Kennedy resumed work with G. H. Roxburgh & Co, studied to complete his qualifications and married.

He was admitted a partner in 1951 but left accountancy in 1952, his employer praising his unblemished record, skills and integrity.

Life for the next 30 years was in the stock and station and wool business with Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Company, while and he and his wife also raised a family.

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1977.

A funeral service will be held at St Matthew’s Church on Thursday at 2.30pm.