George Archibald Sinclair Kennedy
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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George was the only son of Thomas Sinclair Kennedy and Hephzibah (also 'Hephzibar') Kennedy nee Bradley. His father Thomas Sinclair was the son of George and Mary Kennedy and was born in Durham in 1847 (birth registered J/F/M Chester-le-Street); he was baptised on 14 March 1847 at Whickam, Durham. Hephzibah Bradley was the daughter of James Bradley and was born in Nottingham in 1851 (birth registered J/A/S Radford). Thomas and Hephzibah were married on 8 March 1874 at St Hilda, South Shields, Durham, and had at least eight children; Mabel Gertrude (birth registered 1875 J/F/M Nottingham), Florence b. 1874 (registered J/A/S South Shields), Hilda b. 1880 (registered J/A/S Lanchester, Durham), Dora Isabel b. 1878 (registered A/M/J Middlesborough), George Archibald Sinclair b. 3 January 1882, baptised 6 February 1882 at Shotley Bridge, Durham, Hephzibah (Effie) Bradley b. 1883 (registered J/A/S Lanchester), Beatrice b. 1885 (registered J/A/S Nottingham) and Ada Muriel b. 1889 (registered A/M/J Nottingham). In 1881 Thomas (34), a grocer, and his wife were living at Front Street, Dipton, Lanchester, Durham. They had four daughters, Mabel (6), Florence (4), Dora (2) and Hilda (1). By 1891 they were living in Nottingham at 20 Derby Road. Thomas was a shoe salesman and Hephzibah a saleswoman, presumably working with Thomas. Their eight children were all living at home: Mabel (16), a dressmaker, Florence (14), Dora (12), Hilda (10), George (9), Hephzibah (7), Beatrice (5) and Ada (1). Hephzibah Kennedy died on 30 July 1899 at the age of 51. At the time of her death the family was living at 88 Wilford Grove, Meadows, Nottingham. George joined the Royal Navy on 21 August 1900 and at the time of the 1901 Census was at Sheerness, Sheppey, serving in HMS Wildfire. His widowed father was still living at 88 Wilford Grove, Meadows, Nottingham, at the time of the same census when his occupation was given as warehouse assistant. Six of his seven daughters were at home on the night of the census; Mabel (26), no occupation given so she may have been keeping house for her father, Dora (22) a machinist, Hilda a fancy neckwear machinist, Hephzibah (17) a shoe shop assistant, Beatrice (15), no occupation given, and Ada (11) who was still at school. Florence has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census. George married 21 year-old Florence Ada Fleckney, the daughter of Samuel Fleckney, at St James Enfield, Middlesex, on 21 June 1908. Only Beatrice Kennedy has been traced on the 1911 Census and she was then living with her widowed aunt, Louisa Broadrick (65), at 48 Dryden Street, Nottingham. Her aunt was a tobacconist (employer) and Beatrice was employed as a shop assistant (tobacco). At the time of George's death in April 1917 his wife was living at 89 Rossington Road, Sneinton Dale, Nottingham, although the CWGC record gives a later address of 69 Jasper Road, Enfield Highway, Middlesex. There do not appear to have been any children of the marriage. George's father was living at 22 Woodward Street, Nottingham, at the time of his son's death. Thomas Sinclair Kennedy died in 1935 at the age of 88 (death registered September, Nottingham). Of George's sisters: Mabel, Hilda and Dora remained unmarried and continued to live in the family home at 33 Woodward Street until their deaths. Hilda died on 17 December 1938 aged 58, Dora died on 23 May 1955 aged 76 and the eldest sister, Mabel, died on 18 October 1963 aged 88. Florence married Colin Campbell Hunter (date of marriage not yet traced). She was living at 86 Cremorne Street, Meadows, Nottingham, when she died on 2 May 1922 at the age of 45. They may have had a daughter, Hephzibah Kennedy, who married Thomas McCormick in 1934 and died in 1946. Hephzibah married Henry Ducker in 1913 (marriage registered J/A/S Nottingham); they had at least one child, Kathleen Marjorie, who was born in 1915 (birth registered J/A/S Nottingham). Hephzibah died on 7 October 1959 aged 76. Beatrice married George R Cranch in 1923 (marriage registered A/M/J Nottingham) and died on 2 January 1956. Ada probably married Cyril S Clarke in 1922 (marriage registered A/M/J Nottingham) and died in 1934 aged 44 (death registered September, Nottingham).
His last ship was the minesweeper HMS Jason. George joined the Royal Navy on 21 August 1900 on a 12 year engagement; he was 18 years old. He re-engaged on 21 August 1912. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Wildfire, 21 August 1900-15 May 1901 (Armourer); Pembroke II, 16 May 1901-3 October 1901; HMS Andromeda, 4 October 1901-1 February 1903; HMS Wildfire, 2 February 1903-23 May 1903; HMS Vernon, 24 May 1903-20 June 1903; HMS Wildfire, 21 June 1903-16 September 1903; Pembroke, 17 September 1903-28 January 1904; HMS Northampton, 29 January 1904-19 May 1904; Pembroke II, 20 May 1904-22 January 1905; HMS Hermione, 23 January 1905-18 February 1905; HMS Hermione, 23 January 1905-18 February 1905; HMS Forte, 16 February 1905-7 June 1907 (Armourer’s mate 6 December 1905); HMS Wildfire, 8 June 1907-25 January 1908; HMS Vernon , 26 January 1908-14 February 1908; HMS Wildfire, 15 February 1908-4 May 1908; Pembroke II, 5 May 1908-28 December 1908; HMS Triumph, 29 December 1908-11 January 1911; Pembroke II, 12 January 1911-8 February 1911; HMS Ganges, 9 February 1911-31 March 1913; Pembroke II, 1 April 1913-19 September 1913; HMS Vernon, 20 September 1913-26 October 1913; Pembroke II, 27 October 1913-27 April 1914; HMS Jason, 28 April 1914-3 April 1917 (Armourer, 1 April 1914). His record was annotated, ‘NP 2718/17, DD 3rd April 1917. Lost his life when HMS Jason was sunk.' HMS Jason was sunk at 11.10am at 56 36N 6 28W by a mine laid by U78 (Otto Droscher, 20 Apl 1916-15 Jan 1918) while conducting minesweeping operations off Coll Island on the west coast of Scotland. According to a report by the accompanying ship, HMS Circe, HMS Jason sank in less than five minutes. Twenty-five men from a complement of 98 officers and men were lost. George's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
There is a memorial to those who died in HMS Jason in St John's Cathedral, Oban, Scotland. The memorial comprises a lifebelt from the ship with a photograph of the sinking ship and an explanatory plaque (WMA.44641). Nottingham Evening Post 'Roll of Honour', 7 April 1917: ‘ Kennedy, lost at sea April 3rd 1917, George Archibald Sinclair, (naval armourer), only son of Thomas and the late Hephzibah Kennedy, 33 Woodward Street, Nottingham.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post ‘Roll of Honour’, Monday 9 April 1917. ‘Kennedy. Sunk by mine, Tuesday, April 3rd, 1917, Armourer Archie Kennedy, dearly-loved husband of Florence Ada Kennedy.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post ‘In Memoriam’, Wednesday 3 April 1918: ‘Kennedy. In loving memory of George Archibald Sinclair Kennedy (Naval Armourer), lost at sea April 3rd 1917, only son of Thomas and the late Hephizibah Kennedy of 33, Woodward-street. Fondly remembered – father and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Some sources cite 7/4/1917 as the loss date but the obituary seems to confirm 3/4/1917. Probate: Kennedy Hephzibah of 88 Wilford-grove Nottingham (wife of Thomas Sinclair Kennedy) died 30 July 1899 Administration Nottingham 18 August to the said Thomas Sinclair Kennedy shoe-salesman. Effects £1363. Probate: Hunter Florence 86 Cremorne Stret, Nottingham, died 2 May 1922 at same place, intestate. Administration of the Effects granted Nottingham 23 May 1922 to Colin Hunter, the husband, Certified at Edinburgh 7 June, Value of Estate, £191 8s Probate: Kennedy Hilda of 33 Woodward-street Nottingham spinster died 17 December 1938 at the City Mental Hospital Nottingham Administration Nottingham 14 January to Mabel Gertrude Kennedy spinster and Effie Bradley Ducker (wife of Henry Ducker). Effects £70 18s. 10d. Probate: Kennedy Dora Isabel of 33 Woodward-street Nottingham spinster died 23 May 1955 Probate Nottingham 4 July to Mabel Gertrude Kennedy spinster. Effects £1541 11s. 3d. Probate: Cranch Beatrice of 24 Birrell-road Nottingham widow died 2 January 1956 at The City Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 10 February to Kathleen Ducker [niece] spinster and the reverend Eric Samuel Clarke clerk. Effects £2450 19s. 1d. Probate: Ducker Hephzibah Bradley otherwise Effie Bradley of 21 Chestnut Grove West Bridgford Nottinghamshire widow died 7 October 1959 at Sherwood Hospital Nottingham Administration Nottingham 16 November to Kathleen Marjorie Ducker spinster. Effects £698 1s. 4d. Probate Kennedy Mabel Gertrude of 33 Woodward Street Nottingham spinster died 18 October 1963 Administration Nottingham to Morris Fulton Hunter press telegraphist and Kathleen Marjorie Ducker [niece] spinster. £478.
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