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Searching Lt Godwin Barrington-Kennett Kings African Rifles


tjp28blue

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Hello,

Are there any KAR specialists who can help me. According to his Medal Card, Godwin Barrington-Kennett joined the East African Mounted Rifles as Private 500. At some point he had a meteoric rise when he was promoted to Temporary Lt and transferred to the Kings African Rifles (perhaps the 'Special List'). Theatre of War first entered is given as 4A ( but I don't know where/what this is) and the date is 15/1/15. Hence he was entitled to all three medals including the 1915 star. Grateful if anyone knows which ship he travelled on, in which campaigns he fought and what is the meaning of 'Special List'. He survived the war.

Many thanks

TJP

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1 Dec 1901 He was commissioned a 2nd Lt in Royal Sussex Regt http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28333/pages/694/page.pdf

And there is an email address from his son here http://www.dmm.org.uk/whoswho/g023.htm

His full name was Godwin Austen Barrington-Kennett which you will need when searching LG.

And the whole family is here

kennett.jpg

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No reference in NA Discovery database for his service record,likely that he served beyond 1922 and his papers not yet in the public domain. Kept by Army Records,Glasgow.

Theatre codes are listed in the Soldier research section of the Long Long Trail here. It states that the code 4a normally related to Egypt for the early part of 1916,and just 4 for Africa generally before that.

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Theatre codes are listed in the Soldier research section of the Long Long Trail here. It states that the code 4a normally related to Egypt for the early part of 1916,and just 4 for Africa generally before that.

Theatre Codes were changed between the 1914/15 Star and BWM/Victory Medal issuing, I won't go into the precise details but for 1914/1915 Star theatre code 4a = East Africa.

Regards

Steve

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According to his Medal Card, Godwin Barrington-Kennett joined the East African Mounted Rifles as Private 500. At some point he had a meteoric rise when he was promoted to Temporary Lt and transferred to the Kings African Rifles

C. J. Wilson's history "The East African Mounted Rifles" shows a J. H. Barrington Kennett joined "C" Squadron of the EAMR from Ross's Scouts on 16/01/1915*, no date of leaving the unit is recorded.

London Gazette #30256, 28th August 1917, Page 8953 (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30256/supplements/8953) shows.....

The undermentioned to be temp. Lts. for service with K. Afr. Rif.: —

G. A. Barrington-Kennet. 21st Dec. 1916.

London Gazette #31110, 7th January 1919, Page 324 (http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31110/supplements/324) shows.....

The undermentioned temp. Lts. relinquish their commns., and retain the rank of Lt.:—

1st Jan. 1919.

G. A. Barrington-Kennet, K. Afr. Rif.,

on account of ill-health contracted on active service.

His Marriage certificate in 1918 shows him as a Lieutenant in 1/2nd King's African Rifles.

Regards

Steve

*In the history all the other EAMR men transferred from Ross's Scouts have the date recorded as 15/01/1915 which ties in with the date of the Medal Index Card. I believe his initials and the date have been mis-recorded in the history.

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Gentlemen,

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my post. Your comments are extremely helpful and I will be following all of them up asap. The Great War Forum is an invaluable aid for all of us researching WW1 soldiers and the credit for this lies with the expertise and willingness to share shown by so many people like yourselves.

With grateful thanks

TJP

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