Chester-le-Street Chronicle
Ploegsteert Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur James Kennedy was born 1895 in Leadgate, Durham, one of 9 children, 5 boys, 1 girl and 3 deceased (gender unknown), born to John Kennedy 1862 Durham and Barbara Hornsby 1862 Medomsley, County Durham. John and Barbara where married June 1883 in the district of Lanchester. For a time they moved near to the village of Seaton Sluce returning by 1911 to the Durham area settling at Bloemfontein Terrace, Craghead. John worked as a hewer and Arthur James was also below ground as a pony driver, he was now 14 years old.
At the outbreak of war he enlisted in Newcastle upon Tyne, October 26th 1914, joining the 21st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 599. The battalion began its training at Fenham Barracks moving on to Alnwick Castle where they camped in the grounds as of January 29th 1915. They were attached to the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division in Ripon, June 1915, in late August they began their final training at Salisbury Plain. The Battalion landed in Boulogne January 1916, concentrated near St Omer where they were entrained and then marched to the area of the Somme. July 1st 1916 they attacked just north of La Boiselle. In 1917 the battalion fought in the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe and the Battle of Arleux during the Arras Offensive. During his service Arthur James was transferred to the 23rd Battalion N. F., 34th Division taking part in the First Battle of the Somme, March 21st-April 9th 1918 and the battles in the area of the River Lye and the Marne, April 9th-29th.
Private 599 Arthur James Kennedy Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action, recorded as France or Belgium, April 20th 1918. His sacrifice is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, Belgium, one of nearly 11,000 names of United Kingdom and South African servicemen who perished in the area and have no known grave. He was 23 years old.
All monies due to Private Kennedy, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal were awarded to his wife Lillian. Date and location of marriage unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Arthur James Kennedy is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at West Pelton on W112.01
