Pte 15793 Hugh Kennedy

• Age: 22
• From: Scarisbrick, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Hugh Kennedy was born on 11th November 1893 in Scarisbrick, Ormskirk the youngest son of Dodgson Kennedy and his wife Jane (nee Halewood) who were married in 1879 at St. Michael’s, Aughton. Dodgson was an Accountant. Hugh was baptised on 10th December 1893 at St Michael's Church, Aughton. They had seven other children,  

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at “Lanercost”, Winifred Lane, Aughton.

Father Dodgson is aged 47, an accountant b.Aughton, mother Jane is aged 42 b.Liverpool, Hugh is aged 7 b.Scarisbrick, other children born Aughton, Agnes 21, George 10,  Frances 5, and Kathleen 11mths. They also have a cook and a domestic servant. 

His mother died aged 47 on the 4^th March 1906. 

Hugh attended Merchant Taylors school from 1906 - 1908.

His father remarried in 1907 to Ellen Ford at St Mary, Lancaster. 

Hugh's father died aged 55 on 27th October 1910. 

The Morning Leader 6^th Dec 1910 

Mr Dodgson Kennedy, aged 55, Aughton, Lancs, land agent and accountant, and connected with the firm of Messrs. Kennedy and Glover, Solicitors..... £15,583. 

The Morning Leader 6^th Dec 1910 

TWO YEARS' TEST  

A gift of £100 to each of his sons who shall for two years before his father’s death have abstained from the use tobacco and intoxicating liquor is a curious bequest under the will of the late Mr. Dodgson Kennedy, of Aughton, Lancashire, whose estate has been sworn at £15,583 gross. 

The 1911 Census shows Hugh living at Fairhaven, Swanpool Lane, Aughton with his brother William aged 26, occupation Solicitor and his wife Ellen aged 24, born 1887 and a servant named Phoebe Ellen Croston, aged 21 born 1890.  Hugh who is aged 17 and is a Stock Brokers Apprentice. 

Hugh enlisted on the 2nd September, 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15793. He gave his age as 20 years and 10 months and his occupation as a Clerk. He is described as being 5 foot 7 and half inches tall, weighing 146lbs, has a fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as C. of E. 

30.7.16 - wounded and shell shock, to F.A. 

31.7.16 - moved from Camiers to 4^th Gen. Hospital 

5.8.16 - to 5 Convalescent Depot, Cayiers. 

31.8.16 - to Etaples 

15.9.16 - rejoined battalion in the field 

12.10.16 - wounded and missing 

His brother William was also a Liverpool Pal, joining the 17th Battalion as Private 23647 before receving a Commission as outlined in the Liverpool Daily Post report below on the 1^st Feb 1916. 

Mr. William Kennedy solictor of the form Messrs.Leo Kennedy and Glover, who joined the 1st Pals Liverpool Regiment nearly 12 months ago as a ranker has received a commission as second lieutant and been drafted to the 21st King's Liverpool Regiment stationed at Knowsley. Lieutant Kennedy belongs to a family with an excellent recruiting record. He is one of five brothers, sons of the late Mr.Dodgson Kennedy, of Ormskirk and Aughton, who joined the King's forces since the war broke out, one of whom, Private Hugh Kennedy, of the 17th King's Liverpool Regiment is in hospital in France suffering from wounds. 

Ormskirk Advertiser 17^th Dec 1914 

ORMSKIRK SOLICITOR JOINS THE REGULARS.  

THREE OTHER BROTHERS WITH THE COLOURS.  

Another Ormskirk solicitor, Mr. Wm. Kennedy, of the firm of Messrs. Kennedy and Glover, has joined the King's Forces. Along with his younger brother, Mr. Alan Kennedy (who has recently returned from Canada to enlist) Mr. Kennedy yesterday journeyed to Liverpool to the recruiting office at Cooper's and became enrolled as rankers in the 1st City Battalion (" Pals") of the King's Liverpool Regiment, in which his brother, Hugh. has been a member since the war broke out. The eldest brother, Clem, is also with the 4th Dragoon Guards at Tidsworth. As is generally known, these four loyal men, all for active service, are the sons of the late Mr. Dodgson Kennedy, of " Lanercost," Aughton, and of this town, and they are to be congratulated on the step they have taken, all of course having volunteered their service since the war broke out. There are five brothers in all, and four have done their duty to their King and country —a glorious percentage, and one which other families might seek to emulate. Before joining the Forces. Mr. Wm. Kennedy, who resides at Aughton, and who is land agent for the Bishop of Whalley (the rector of Croston) made arrangements with his lordship whereby he is released of this position until the war is over, the Bishop, in a letter to him. expressing the hope that the example set by his agent would be followed by the young men eligible for enlistment in the Croston area. Mr. Kennedy and his brother will go into training at Prescot after the Christmas holidays. 

Ormskirk Advertiser 5^th June 1915 

A PATRIOTIC FAMILY. 

Mr. Geo. Holmes, of Bolton-le-sands, a son-in-law of the late Mr. Dodgson Kennedy, of " Lanercost," Aughton, joined the forces some three weeks ago, and is now in France as a motor-driver. He has thus followed the example of his four brothers-in-law, sons of Mr, Kennedy, who are now with the colours. Another brother-in-law of Mr. Holmes, Lieutenant Kirk, the amateur Bradford City footballer, was killed in action a little time back. 

Hugh married Elizabeth Harrison on the 14th July, 1915 at Halsall Parish Church.  As of 1915, they were living in Mill House, Halsall, Ormskirk.  He had a daughter born on 31st December 1915. His wife informed the military that she changed the baby's name from Mary to Jane.     

On 30.07.16 Hugh was wounded at Guillemont and by the time he was hospitalised he was additionally recorded as suffering from shell shock. He was admitted on 31.07.16 to a General Hospital at Rouen.

The Liverpool Echo of 05th August 1916 reported the circumstances of Hugh's injuries:

"Private Hugh Kennedy, of the "Pals," son of the late Dodson Kennedy, of Ormskirk,has been wounded, and is hospital at Rouen. He was buried in a trench by a German shell, eighth of his comrades being killed on the spot. He was dug out along with two or three others by an officer.".  

Hugh returned to his battalion on 15th September 1916 and was killed in action on the 12th October 1916 aged 22 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

17^th Bn War Diary:  Battle of Transloy Ridge –                                               

11-10-16 - Gird Trench/Gird Support – Battalion in front line and support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday.  Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day.

12-10-16  - Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak.  2.5 p.m. Zero hour. Attack on German front line system commenced.  Enemy wire was found to be uncut and attack was unsuccessful.  Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion H.Q. and Support Trench were heavily shelled throughout afternoon and evening. […] During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling.

Casualties: 5 officers killed,  5 officers wounded, 38 OR killed, about 225 OR wounded/missing etc.

Graham Maddocks, in “Liverpool Pals” p.140, adds: “As the whistle blew, the 17^th Battalion left its trenches to move forward.  […]  As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them, and at the same time, the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire.  […]  Although their numbers had been depleted by the British bombardment, they were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire.  As such, it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them.   The 17^th Battalion, on the left, was particularly badly hit, as its portion of No Man’s Land contained a slight rise in the ground, and as the troops emerged onto it they were silhouetted against the sky and became easy targets.  Those on the left of the attack, who managed to avoid the hail of bullets and make it to the German wire, then found that it was totally uncut, and thus trapped, they too became easy targets, to be picked off almost at the enemy’s will.  It was hardly surprising that, seeing the first waves being wiped out, some of the following waves turned back and made for their start lines. These lines were now packed with other waves of troops, however, and the fleeing men added to the congestion already there, and became easy prey for the German gunners.  There is some evidence also, to suggest that at this stage, the British trenches were also being hit by their own heavy artillery shells which were falling short.”

Private Hugh Kennedy, of the "Pals," son of the late Dodson Kennedy, of Ormskirk,has been wounded, and is hospital at Rouen. He was buried in a trench by a German shell, eighth of his comrades being killed on the spot. He was dug out along with two or three others by an officer. (Lpool Echo 5/8/16).  

Hugh has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Liverpool Daily Post 1^st Feb 1916 

Mr. William Kennedy, solicitor of the form Messrs. Leo Kennedy and Glover, who joined the 1st Pals Liverpool Regiment nearly 12 months ago as a ranker has received a commission as second lieutenant and been drafted to the 21st King's Liverpool Regiment stationed at Knowsley. Lieutenant Kennedy belongs to a family with an excellent recruiting record. He is one of five brothers, sons of the late Mr.Dodgson Kennedy, of Ormskirk and Aughton, who joined the King's forces since the war broke out, one of whom, Private Hugh Kennedy, of the 17th King's Liverpool Regiment is in hospital in France suffering from wounds.   

Liverpool Echo of 05th August 1916 reported the circumstances of Hugh's injuries: 

"Private Hugh Kennedy, of the "Pals," son of the late Dodson Kennedy, of Ormskirk, has been wounded, and is hospital at Rouen. He was buried in a trench by a German shell, eight of his comrades being killed on the spot. He was dug out along with two or three others by an officer." 

He was reported wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post 11th Sept 1916. 

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Kennedy, 15973, H.; 

Liverpool Daily Post of 13th November 1916 reported 

MISSING ORMSKIRK MAN. 

After being officially wounded in France by the War Office two or three weeks ago, no news has been heard of Private Hugh Kennedy of the King's (Liverpool Regiment), the youngest son of the late Mr Dodgson Kennedy of " Lanercost" Aughton, and Ormskirk. Any information concerning him will be gladly welcomed by his wife, Mrs Kennedy of Halsall near Ormskirk. 

Ormskirk Advertiser 15^th March 1917 

JOINING THEIR BRETHREN.  

In regard to Mr. Kennedy, who is a partner in the firm of Messrs. Kennedy and Glover, solicitors, of Ormskirk. He is also one of five sons of the late Mr. Dodgson Kennedy, of " Lanercost," Aughton, to don khaki. The eldest son, Clem, is in France, the next, William is Lieut. and Assistant Adjutant of his battalion at Ripon, Allan has been recently discharged as medically unfit, whilst the youngest son, Hugh, has been reported missing in France for some months. Mr. Kennedy's brother-in-law, Mr. F. Holme has had two years in France with the A.S.C., as a transport driver, and was over military age when he volunteered. Mr. G. D. Kennedy is the second partner of the firm to join up, whilst three of the office staff are with the colours. These are worthy records, and the best wishes of their many friends accompany the two soldiers. 

Ormskirk Advertiser 10^th Jan 1918 

AUGHTON OFFICER WOUNDED.  

Lieutenant W. Kennedy, of Fairhaven, Aughton, of the firm of Kennedy and Glover, solicitors, Ormskirk, has been wounded in action, and is in hospital in France. He only went out to France a day or two before Christmas. Lieutenant Kennedy is one of the five sons of the late Mr Dodgson Kennedy, all of whom joined the Army. One the youngest, Hugh, has been killed in action, whilst Allan has been discharged medically unfit. 

Hugh is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Halsall Civic Memorial

Aughton Civic Memorial

Merchant Taylor’s School, Crosby

Aughton Institute

St Cuthbert’s, C. of E. Church, Halsall

Ormskirk Comrades Roll of Honour

Liverpool Stock Exchange.

Soldiers Effects had executors Elizabeth, George D. and James Draper. 

His wife Elizabeth, dob 30^th Oct 1895, received a pension of 18/9 for herself and child Jane from 09/07/17. 

Widow Elizabeth remarried to James Milbourn in 1919 at St. Cuthbert's, Halsall. 

She appears divorced on the 1939 register at 167 Bedford St. South, Liverpool, dob 30^th Oct 1895, a domestic, and died aged 72 in 1968. 

We currently have no further information on Hugh Kennedy, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.