William Kennedy
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Kennedy, one of 7 children, of his surviving siblings was the 3rd born of 4 sons and had 2 elder sisters. His father William Kennedy was born at Stapleton, Cumberland, January 9th 1862 where he was baptised March 31st. At the age of 19 William was in service, an indoor farm servant at Parkland Farm in the home of one of two tenant farmers, Arthur Harding, his wife and family. He was married in 1886 in the district of Hexham, Northumberland to Agnes Dagg Robson, born, June 7th 1860 in the parish of Corsenside, Northumberland, (including West and East Woodbury and Ridsdale), daughter of shepherd Henry Robson and his wife Mary Agnes Turnbull. Daughters Mary Agnes and Jane were born in the parish of Simonside, Northumberland, in 1886 and 1889 respectively, employed as an agricultural labourer by 1891 the Kennedy family were living at Fairshaw. Over the next 10 years Mary gave birth to a further 4 children, all sons, Henry in 1891, John and William at Stamfordham in 1894 and December 5th 1897 and Robert at Horncastle Farm, West Welpington in 1890 where his father was employed as a shepherd. By 1911 with the exception of scholars William (13) and Robert (10), who attended Capheaton Council School, their children had left home, William Snr now employed for his own account as a cattle-man had moved with his family into 8 rooms at Tofts Hall (Farm), Capheaton, Northumberland, William Jnr went on to become a shepherd.
Agnes’ mother Mary Agnes Robson nee Turnbull (69) had died, December 21st 1906, her father Henry (82) in 1914 just as Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany and within 3 years her grief would be compounded by the loss of her son William.
William enlisted at Haltwhistle, Northumberland, just prior to his 19th birthday, September 12th 1916 and was assigned as Private 33872, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a training unit in Sunderland. Transferred to the British Expeditionary Force he departed to France, April 10th 1917, joining his regiment but was then transferred to the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, 18th Brigade, 6th Division, “B” Coy, Lewis Gun Section, with a change of service number as Private 41873.
Private 41873 William Kennedy West Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action on the Lens-La Bassée front and interred at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Loos, grave II. G. 6. He was 19 years of age and single. Captain Ambler wrote of him, “A good and keen soldier, always ready to do his job, he was esteemed and well thought of by all.”
Graves Registration Report Form dated December 10th 1920 lists the name of Private Kennedy as having died October 14th 1917, the same day as Private 16269 J. E. Hewitt, Norfolks, whom he is buried along-side, the CWGC have assigned to him the date of October 4th 1917, as have been 3 other comrades of his regiment Plot II Row B numbers 7 to 9.
His father William received all monies due to him from the Army sent to him at Reads Bush, Steel, Hexham, Northumberland, as were his son’s awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Although his brothers Henry and John Kennedy would have been eligible to serve no records have been found.
Agnes Dagg Kennedy nee Robson (72) died in 1932, her death registered in the district of Hexham. In 1939 retired farmer William Kennedy was living alone at the same address, he died aged 79-years in 1941, registered at Northumberland West.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Kennedy is remembered at Blanchland on B40.01
