55119 Regimental Sergeant Major J. D. Kennedy was a veteran of the First World War and was the RSM of the Queen’s Own from 1933-37. At the time of his attestation into the 19th Battalion CEF on 11 November 1914 he was 29 years old, listed his occupation as Letter Carrier, had already served two years with the Queen’s Own and was married.
He was wounded in the thigh by shrapnel the morning 10 April 1916 at Etaples. He was discharged as fit by June 1916 but appears to have remained in England on administrative duties until the end of the war. After being discharged from active service in 1919 he rejoined his old regiment the Queen’s Own. By 1928 he is a Company Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer 2nd Class) and in 1933 is promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer 1st Class) a rank he holds until his release in 1937.
Timeline of Service
- 1914, 11 November, attested into 19th Bn CEF;
- 1916, 10 April, wounded at Etaples;
- 1919, 19 February, discharged from active service;
- 1928, appears in a photo of the Sergeants’ Mess as CSM JD Kennedy;
- 1930, appears in a photo of the Sergeants Mess as WO2,
- 1933, appears in a photo of the Sergeants’ Mess as RSM JD Kennedy WO1;
- 1934, appears in a photo of the Officers of the Sergeants’ Mess as RSM JD Kennedy
His WWI records can be found here.
Do wish Harry Fox was around he would know !!