Capt. Arthur Kennedy M.C., M.B., Scottish Rifles, K.O.S.B & R.A.M.C.

[Ivor Anderson]

Capt. Arthur Kennedy M.C., M.B., Scottish Rifles, K.O.S.B & R.A.M.C.

This officer first entered a theatre of war at Gallipoli on 1 June 1915 and served with the Scottish Rifles, att'd KOSB before the RAMC.

He is thought to have been wounded at the Somme in 1916?  His address in 1916 was:- 6, Beaumont Gate, Dowanhill, Glasgow.

His MC was listed in the King's birthday honours LG in June 1919 and so has no citation: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31370/page/6830

An interesting war service. Trying to help the MC owner find out more.  MIC - Ancestry:

Edited 23 April by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[Ivor Anderson]

BWM & VM roll with RAMC (Ancestry):

[Ivor Anderson]

Relinquished Comm. 1920: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32021/supplement/8546

[Ivor Anderson]

1915 Star roll with Scottish Rifles (Ancestry): 

[Ivor Anderson]

His MC was awarded while he was attached to the 2/3 Home Counties Field Ambulance (58th Division): https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7355082

War Diary Nov 1918:

WD March 1919:

Edited 23 April by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[Ivor Anderson]

WD June-Oct 1918:

23 June 1918

Kennedy mentioned 1 Aug & on 23 Aug 1918 leading NCOs & bearers

11 Sept 1918 ' Lt. Kennedy proceeded to the Fwd area'.

Edited 23 April by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[Tom Lang]

His MIC shows 15 Scottish Rifles, but LLT doesn't show such a Battalion, and I can't find any WD for this Battalion.

Can you enlighten me?

Kindest Regards,

Tom.

[Chris_Baker]

The red 15 means 1914-15 Star.

[Ivor Anderson]

The owner has family papers indicating 11th Scottish Rifles attached 1st K.O.S.B. by 1916. His personal diary says - page for July 1st 1916 which I think reads:-" "Z"day. Went over top at 0745. Terrible carnage. Got it in the knee abt. 200yds out.Lay out until 1500 then crawled in. Gezaincourt that night and hospital train to base." I think the 1st.KOSB went over 15m. after the 1st Inniskillings.

Edited 23 April by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Joined RAMC unit 23 May 1918:

WD of 1st KOSB: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353578

Edited 23 April by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

If Kennedy was wounded in the knee at the Somme is there any evidence of him on 1916 casualty lists?

After a period of recovery & preparation could he have been later posted to the RAMC by May 1918?

Edited 23 April by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

From TNA - WD of 1st KOSB: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353578   Kennedy listed among wounded 1 July 1916 (NB 12th S Rifles):

Edited 23 April by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Apparently The Faversham News front page obituary on Sept. 18th 1953 says he won his MC on the Somme where he was wounded for a second time.

Though if this info was supplied by his family after his death it may not be totally accurate. Probate - died 15 Sept 1953 (Ancestry):

1939 Register has DoB 6 Aug 1892 - medical practitioner 1939

Edited 23 April by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

MC index card - image 1566: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6086724

[Ivor Anderson]

Think this is him - commissioned 19 Sept 1914 (3rd from top right): https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28910/page/7484

[Ivor Anderson]

Captain from 1 May 1919 (LG 15 May 1919): https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31341/supplement/6096 

Promotion to Captain cancelled May 1920: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31916/supplement/5905

Relinquished Comm. 1920: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32021/supplement/8546

Edited 24 April by Ivor Anderson

[museumtom]

For what it is worth-

[Ivor Anderson]

Thanks Tom, I think that is a different Arthur (no P). The MC winner was From Scotland/Kent and was not at Mons.

Edited 24 April by Ivor Anderson

[museumtom]

Sorry Ivor.

[Ivor Anderson]

No problem Tom. They are common names.

He was married to Nina McCloud-Jardine on the 18th April 1918 in Glasgow. Living Swale, in Kent 1939 (Ancestry): https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/17208033:61596?_phcmd=u('https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/cen_1930/?name=arthur_kennedy&birth=1892&location=3257.3250&priority=united-kingdom&successSource=Search&queryId=d22b95ae-8b09-4124-87e5-d88b6d3e0c1a','successSource') 

Family tree on Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/facts?_phcmd=u('https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/

He had 2 daughters:- Olivia (Viv) and Sheena. (Both went to St. Winifred's School in Ramsgate).

Edited 24 April by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

22 hours ago, Ivor Anderson said:

If Kennedy was wounded in the knee at the Somme is there any evidence of him on 1916 casualty lists?

The MC owner has Arthur Kennedy's personal WW1 diary. Entry for July 1916 includes: Another casualty on the wounded list is Major G. Hilton. The following is Kennedy's diary entry for Tues. 4th July 16:- "Left Etretat abt. 12 for Le Havre. Left Havre on H.M.H.S. "PANAMA" abt. 6pm. Comfy. voyage. Played bridge all time with Maj. Hilton. Lost consistently.

[Tom Lang]

On 23/04/2024 at 13:15, Chris_Baker said:

The red 15 means 1914-15 Star.

Duh!

[Tom Lang]

On 23/04/2024 at 14:15, Ivor Anderson said:

From TNA - WD of 1st KOSB: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353578   Kennedy listed among wounded 1 July 1916 (NB 12th S Rifles):

This is my transcription of this page in the WD.

Tom.

[Tom Lang]

Looking back into the 1st KOSBs WD, I found this page (my transcription) when (I assume) Lieut. Kennedy joined the Battalion at Suez.

Is this the same Officer?

Tom.

[Ivor Anderson]

16 minutes ago, Tom Lang said:

Looking back into the 1st KOSBs WD, I found this page (my transcription) when (I assume) Lieut. Kennedy joined the Battalion at Suez.

Is this the same Officer?

It could well be him being attached from the Scottish Rifles. His MIC places him in Gallipoli from 1 June 1915, but neither the 11th or 12th SRs were there then?