Lance Corporal Samuel Guiler Kennedy
was born at Gills, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry on 15th September 1897 to James Kennedy, Farmer and Mary Kennedy nee Tweed. They had married on 12th January 1893 at First Kilraughts Presbyterian Church, Ballymoney.
In 1901, Kennedy (3) was living in house 3, Gills, Somerset, Co. Londonderry with his parents and 3 siblings; Margaret S (7), William Y (5) and Charlotte E L (1). Also in the house was Mary Tweed (mother in law to James) and a servant, William Graham.
In 1911 Kennedy is living in house 21, Ballysally, Portstewart with his parents and 5 siblings; William (15), John S (9), Hugh C (8), Mary T (6) & James (4). William James O'Hara and Robert J O'Hara, servants, are also in the house.
Later the family moved to Cranagh House, Coleraine.
Kennedy would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1913/1914. His father signed his Bankers Guarantee.
S G Kennedy - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet
Kennedy is recorded as working in Strabane branch. He may also have worked in Letterkenny branch.
Belfast Bank, Strabane branch
Belfast Bank, Letterkenny branch
On 2nd February 1916, whilst in Letterkenny, Kennedy volunteered and enlisted in the 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers with the Service Number 25960. He would later be promoted to Lance Corporal.
Kennedy's Army Service Record still exists and consists of at least 36 pages. The following pages are examples.
S G Kennedy - Service Record - 1
S G Kennedy - Service Record - 2
S G Kennedy - Service Record - 3
S G Kennedy - Service Record - 4
S G Kennedy - Service Record - 5
S G Kennedy - Service Record - 6
S G Kennedy - Service Record - 24 - letter from Canada
S G Kennedy - Service Record - 25 - Letter from Canada
Kennedy saw service in France during 1916. His medical record shows many entries through 1917 to 1918.
The following photograph shows Samuel in uniform standing with his family outside Cranagh House.
Hugh Catherwood 5 Aug 1902; William Tweed 25 Dec 1895; Margaret Stewart 22 Jan 1894; Samuel Guiler 15 Sep 1897; Charlotte Elizabeth Long 17 May 1899; John; Stewart 3 Apr 1901; Mary Tweed 26 Sep 1904; James Sr.6 Mar 1866; Mary (nee Tweed 15 Mar 1868); James Jr.15 Nov 1906.
Family tradition said he was in the Easter Uprising in Dublin in 1918,
Following demobilisation, he emigrated to Pierson, Manitoba, where he worked for the Royal Bank of Canada. He came back home on 23rd December 1925 and married Edith Mary Small on 17th February 1926 at Terrace Row, Third Presbyterian Church, Coleraine. They then returned to Canada. There were no children
Kennedy died on 6th April 1981 in Brandon, Manitoba.
Also see William Kennedy who was a cousin working for the Northern Banking Company. William was killed in action.
* Some of the information came from an anonymous person. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my data.
* Following receipt of this information, this website was found - Kennedy-Stewart-Tweed. A further site was also of some use - Wikitree - Kennedy.
The picture here is of Samuel Guiler Kennedy, born 15 Sep 1897 in Gills, Coleraine, son of James Kennedy Sr., farmer, and Mary Tweed. The family moved to Cranagh House, Coleraine about 1906. He was the cousin of the Samuel G Kennedy above (their fathers were brothers). The Samuel G Kennedy pictured above enlisted at Letterkenny, Donegal, where he worked for the Northern Bank. He enlisted in 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers; Regimental No. 25960; served in France where he was gassed. Family tradition said he was in the Easter Uprising in Dublin in 1918. He emigrated to Pierson, Manatoba, where he worked for the Royal Bank of Canada. He died 6 April 1981 in Brandon, Manatoba. He came back home 23 Dec 1925 and married Edith Mary Small 17 Feb 1926 at Terrace Row Third Presbyterian Church, Coleraine, following which they returned to Canada. There had no children
ReplyDeleteThank you for the above information. I have verified some of it against the Irish Census and have discovered the websites detailed at the bottom of my article.
ReplyDeleteSam Guiler Kennedy is my great uncle and I can confirm the bulk of the above
ReplyDelete