Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: George Alexander Kennedy

Ancestor's date of birth: 20/11/1877

Ancestor's date of death: 30/10/1950

Cause of Death: After his two brothers died at sea he was in ill health and just passed away.

Service and Life Before the Boer War: He grew up in Tenterfield NSW. His father was George as well a desendant from the Earle of Cassilis. A country boy with all the bush skills. First generation Australian. Worked as a Drover. Served as Trooper No 2082 with No 4 Squadron New South Wales Mounted Rifles, Tenterfield.

Service Number: 212

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Tenterfied

Unit: 1 Troop, B Squadron, 5 Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: LCPL, Date Effective: 1902

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): No evidence of post Boer War service

Murray Page: 188

Contingent: Third Australian

Ship: Columbian, Date of Sailing: 22/05/1902

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Nil

Personal Characteristics: Height 173 cm of 'fair' complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. He was a fine horseman, veterinary and a gentleman. A warden of the church and his home was always the center for fine friendship and hospitality.

Reasons to go and fight: Probably because his father came from Kent in England and he was related to General Charles William Thompson, Major Minter. It was in his blood to serve.

Details of service in war: Disembarked at Durban in Natal on 18 June 1902, after the peace had been concluded. They were quartered in the Durban/Newcastle area intil embarking at Durban on the Manchester Merchant on 1 July 1902.

Service and life after the Boer War: George Alexander Kennedy became a highly respected citizen in the Nortern NSW district where he managed Agriculture Estates. He studied and became a vetertinary, a noted vet of the turf at Grafton Race course. He was a skilled surgeon and always had his animals welfare at heart. His son John Alexander was a rear gunner in the 101 Sqadron, Lancaster Bombers.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Dianne Kennedy, Townsville QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: granddaughter

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