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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: K8T on Tuesday 12 September 17 14:21 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I am researching a name on a local memorial in Rosherville, Kent - Frederick James Kennedy.
Although I've found him on a census in 1901 living with his grandmother in Gravesend, I can only find his medals card which relates to his service.
I have found 5 or 6 entries in the UK Navy List books which may or may not be related to him (1916-1920) all seem to related to working on tugs.
He was born in 1893 in Gravesend and lived in Stuart Rd, Gravesend.
He must have died shortly after the war to have appeared on the memorial, however I can find no record of this.
Can anyone help?
K8T
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FreeBMD has a death of Frederick J Kennedy Q1 1919 district Strood which would include Rosherville.
MaxD
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I saw that one too, but he would have been 26 then and that person was 44.
K8T
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His merchant Navy card (with photo)
Frederick James Kennedy
dob 23 July 1893
NOK Andrew Thomas Kennedy, 14. Stewart Road, Gravesend.
His no appears to be 302443 and the last ship he served on shown was 142737 on the 9th month 1921.
Could he have served in WW2?
Cathy
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Hi Cathy,
I don't have access to his Merchant Navy card. The national archive rolls card didn't have a photo.
The Rosherville Memorial only has WW1 names on it but was erected in the 1920s I believe.
Thank you for the NOK name, I didn't have that.
K8T
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I think there is a little confusion over this name. I had found a medal records card with the date of 1893 as his date of birth. It looks like he had an uncle with the same name born 1874 in Gravesend. So you were right after all MaxD, my apologies.
I still don't have a lot of information on his service, but Cath151, I believe you may have found the correct one. Andrew Thomas Kennedy was his brother.
Any further information about his service would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
K8T
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Hi :)
If you have the medal card with the photo it will have numbers of the ships he served on which can be found at...
http://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/vesselsnum.php
I can t seem to find any other records either
Perhaps the Frederick on the War memorial was his uncle as Frederick born 1893 still appears to be alive in 1921.
Cathy
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Record for Frederick James born 1893 with photo etc is on FindMyPast
Search Education & Work
His parents seem to be
Andrew Thomas Kennedy & Clara Maude Walter
Married June qtr 1886 Strood
On the 1891 census as Hennedy on Anc, Andrew/Clara/Lilian
Clara died Dec qtr 1896 Gravesend aged 29
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Many thanks Comberton and Cath151. I don't have access to the photo but I guess I am looking at the uncle. Just can't find any service record at present. He was born in 1874. I've ordered his death certificate just in case it gives a clue.
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PM sent
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K8T
If I am following correctly, you now think the war memorial relates to the 1874 Frederick James who died in 1919?
Your title says Mercantile Marines. The Mercantile Marine (no "s") is is the Merchant Navy but you earlier mentioned Navy Lists which are Royal Navy lists. Might be worth just reviewing the evidence for which service he was in. I am drawn to the RNR Engineer officer who served in Revenger (you mentioned tugs) whose record can be downloaded from the National Archives for £3.50.
MaxD
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Hi MaxD,
Yes, it seems that I was on the wrong line of enquiry. It only has a name on the memorial and no service or rank. It appears that I should have been looking at the Uncle. As neither uncle or nephew appear in any casualty list in either CWGC or Ancestry it involved a little guess work on my part. Luckily I am on the right path now.
Many thanks for you help
K8T
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I'd be interested to know if the RNR officer's record links to the next of kin.
I note he was a Freemason before the war with the profession Engine Driver - at that time could mean a man who was an engine expert, a natural for later service as an Engineer Officer.
MaxD
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Hi MaxD,
Some of the records do have a link to next of kin. Greenwich Maritime Museum has quite a bit of information and is able to access these records.
I realised that I was on the wrong person when I saw from census information that the person I had thought he was had an uncle with the same name and appeared the Navy Lists.
K8T
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Glad all is clear!
MaxD