William Kennedy was the eldest son of the Rev Samuel Guiler Kennedy and Christina Lary Kennedy. William Kennedy was born on 13th November 1892 in Wishaw, Lanark, Scotland. After the birth of their daughter Christina, the family moved to Belfast. William was educated at the Royal Belfast Academic Institution (R.B.A.I.), locally referred to as Inst. William Kennedy joined Northern Bank on 4th January 1910 at Head Office in Belfast. He worked in Magherafelt in (1911), Shaftesbury Square (1912) and Head Office – relief (1912). At the outbreak of war he enlisted in Belfast along with his younger brother. His younger brother James was killed on the Somme on 1st July 1916. Rifleman William Kennedy was killed in action on 7th June 1917.
Further Information
William Kennedy was the eldest son of the Rev Samuel Guiler Kennedy and Christina Lary Kennedy.
William Kennedy was born on 13th November 1892 in Wishaw, Lanark, Scotland.
After the birth of their daughter Christina, the family moved to Belfast.
The 1901 census lists William as age 8 living with the family at house 5 in Cresent Gardens, Windsor Ward, Antrim.
Family: Samuel Guiler Kennedy, Christina Lary Kennedy, William Kennedy (born 13th November 1892, Wishaw, Lanark, Scotland), Christina Lary Kennedy (born about 1895, Scotland), Josiah A Chancellor Kennedy (born 4th March 1896, Belfast), James Kennedy (born 17th July 1898, Belfast), Samuel Kennedy (born 9th January 1902, Belfast), Herbert Kennedy (born 6th February 1903, Belfast)
William was educated at the Royal Belfast Academic Institution (R.B.A.I.), locally referred to as Inst.
William Kennedy joined Northern Bank on 4th January 1910 at Head Office in Belfast.
The 1911 census lists William as age 18 living with the family at house 31, Cromwell House, in Cromwell Road, Cromac, Belfast. He was working as a bank clerk. His father was Minister and Professor of Church History Pastoral Theology P.S.D.
Several transfers followed to Shaftesbury Square (1910), Magherafelt (1911), Shaftesbury Square (1912) and Head Office – relief (1912).
On 9th September 1914, whilst based in Head Office, he volunteered and enlisted in Belfast into the 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles.
Rifleman William Kennedy’s service number was 16657. His younger brother James was 16658, so it seems the two signed up together and they were assigned to the same battalion.
His younger brother James was killed on the Somme on 1st July 1916.
Rifleman William Kennedy was killed in action on 7th June 1917.
In the July 1917 edition of the RBAI School News, it was announced that he had been awarded a certificate for gallantry in the field.
Another brother, Josiah Kennedy, served with the Canadians and survived the war.
James, William and Josiah Kennedy are all listed on the Inst Honour Roll of the Great War.
Rifleman William Kennedy is buried in Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery. Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery is located eight kilometres south of Ypres in Belgium.
The CWGC record Rifleman William Kennedy as the son of The Rev. S G Kennedy, of Cromwell House, Cromwell Road, Belfast.
