Sep 22, 1875

Born at Montague Bridge, Prince Edward Island Canada

Nov 17, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59540 (temporary number 296)

Ø      Next of kin given as Willard Kennedy (brother), address unknown

o       Later changed to Mrs William Bearse (aunt) at Sydney Nova Scotia

Ø      Previous occupation given as Electrician

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø      Assigned to “C” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “B” Company

May 4, 1915

Fined $6.00 (offence not recorded in the file)

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp near Hythe Kent

May 24, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days detention and fined $6.00 (offence not recorded in the file)

Jul 5, 1915

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Jul 6, 1915

Reported for duty from being AWL and sentenced to 10 days detention and forfeits 2 days pay

Jul 31, 1915

Reported to be AWL

Aug 2, 1915

Reported for duty from being AWL and sentenced to forfeit 3 days pay and restricted to half pay for 2 months

Sep 1, 1915

Reported for duty from being AWL and sentenced to forfeit 5 days pay for his absence

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

Oct 5, 1915

Fined $2.00 for “Drunkenness”

Oct 15, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days FP No 2 for “Absent from 9.30 am and 1.45 pm parades at La Clytte 

Note that there were 26 other soldiers absent from the same 1.45 pm parade.  The Battalion was forming up to proceed to the front line trenches

Oct 28, 1915

Reported to be AWL

Nov 27, 1915

Sentenced to 14 days FP (Field Punishment) No 1 for “Drunk and using obscene language to an Officer”

Jan 26, 1916

Admitted to No 5 CFA DRS (Canadian Field Ambulance Divisional Rest Station) diagnosed with Influenza

Jan 29, 1916

Transferred to Divisional Rest Station at Godewaersvelde

Feb 4, 1916

Discharged to duty from the Rest Station

Apr 20, 1916

Admitted to No 4 CFA then transferred to No 5 CFA diagnosed with an unstable heart

Apr 21, 1916

Transferred to No 15 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) then transferred same day to No 17 CCS

Apr 26, 1916

Transferred to the St John’s Ambulance Brigade Hospital at Etaples

May 9, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Newhaven

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital 

Admitted to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derbyshire, diagnosis now reading Tachycardia (rapid heart beat)

May 22, 1916

Transferred to the Haye Leigh VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Hospital at Derbyshire

May 25, 1916

Transferred to 5^th Northern General Hospital at Leicester

Jun 1, 1916

Transferred to the King’s Red Cross Convalescent Hospital at Bushey Park, Hampton Hill

Jun 14, 1916

Discharged from hospital and placed On Command to 1^st CCD for 4 weeks of Physical Training

Jul 21, 1916

Posted to 39^th Reserve Battalion

Aug 4, 1916

Awarded 15 days FP No 2 for absence while a defaulter from 6 am July 30, 1916 to Tattoo August 3, 1916.  Forfeits 15 days pay and 5 days pay and allowances under RW (Royal Warrant)

Sep 12, 1916

Medical Board at West Sandling Camp declares that he has a “very feeble heart” and recommends that he have 4 weeks of PT (physical training)

Sep 18, 1916

TOS CCAC and attached to 1^st CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot at Monks Horton

Dec 1, 1916

Discharged from CCD on posting to 1^st CCTB (Canadian Convalescent Training Battalion)

Jan 5, 1917

Posted to 21^st Battalion

Jan 6, 1917

Arrived at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at Havre France and TOS the 21^st Battalion

Feb 19, 1917

Arrived at 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Mar 26, 1917

Sentenced to 28 days FP No 1 for “Drunkenness”

Apr 4, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field

May 8, 1917

Gassed and admitted to No 4 CFA, then transferred same day to No 12 CFA

May 12, 1917

Transferred to No 2 Australian General Hospital at Wimereux

May 15, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St Andrew

Posted to the EORD while in hospital 

Admitted to the Naunton VAD Hospital at Cheltenham

Jun 21, 1917

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Epsom

Jul 11, 1917

Discharged from hospital and attached to 3^rd CCD for PT (Physical Training) etc

Jul 18, 1917

Awarded the Military Medal per London Gazette #30188

Citation reads

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action.  During an intense bombardment of gas shells by the enemy, this man at great risk entered a dugout, into which a gas shell had exploded and brought out a wounded man thereby saving his life.  Later he carried out three wounded men through the gas affected area to safety and was assisting others when he was overcome himself and had to be taken out of the line.

AFW 3121    15-5-17

Dec 24, 1917

Admitted to No 14 Canadian General Hospital at Eastbourne with a badly lacerated finger of left hand caused by “a meat machine”, also described as “a meat chopper”.  Although not recorded in the file, it would seem that he was employed in a kitchen. 

The end of the middle finger left had had been severed at the base of the nail, exposing shattered bone.  Surgery performed to remove bone shards and stitch the end of the finger at the last knuckle

Feb 20, 1918

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Epsom

Apr 17, 1918

Discharged from hospital 

Posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

Apr 27, 1918

Appointed to rank of Acting Lance Corporal with pay to complete establishment

May 11, 1918

Medical Board at Seaford notes: 

Ø      Complains of pains in chest and indigestion

Ø      Middle finger left hand stiff and left hand weak

Ø      Looks 10 years older than given age 

Classified fit for duty “B2” (able to perform non-combat, base or garrison duties in England or France)

Aug 7, 1918

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and placed on loan to the Royal Air Force at Blandford

Aug 14, 1918

Posted to the Canadian Air Force

Aug 22, 1918

Attached to the Canadian Air Force at Upper Heyford

Nov 20, 1918

TOS No 2 Squadron CAF (Canadian Air Force) and appointed to rank of 2^nd AM with pay (technical)

Jun 11, 1919

Relinquishes appointment of 2^nd AM (technical) and reverts to rank of L/Cpl

Jun 12, 1919

Posted to “P” Wing, Canadian Concentration Camp at Witley pending return to Canada

Jul 2, 1919

Embarked the RMS Olympic at Southampton

TOS District Depot No 2 at Toronto Ontario

Jul 8, 1919

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto Ontario

Jul 11, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Toronto Ontario 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 228570

Ø      Rank on discharge L/Cpl

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – Sydney Nova Scotia

Ø      Unit served with recorded as 123 Squadron, CAF

Oct 25, 1919

Attested into the Special Guard, CMPC (Canadian Military Police Corps) at Halifax Nova Scotia 

Ø      Number 2779924

Ø      Next of kin given as Willard Kennedy (brother) of Montague, Prince Edward Island

Ø      Previous occupation given as Electrician

Ø      Previous military experience given as 21^st Battalion CEF 3 years, RAF & CAF 1 year

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

Oct 26, 1919

Appointed to rank of Lance Corporal

Apr 3, 1920

Discharged from the Special Guard CMPC at Halifax Nova Scotia 

Ø      Rank on discharge L/Cpl

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge McLeod Alberta, Canada

Feb 27, 1922

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to the General Post Office at Sydney Nova Scotia

Jun 11, 1954

Deceased

Brookside Cemetery
Winnipeg MB

Jul 7, 1954

Following a request by the family, 2 wills that were signed by Harry Kennedy were removed from the file and sent to the family