William Clark-Kennedy
William Hew Clark-Kennedy | |
|---|---|
 Clark-Kennedy c. 1918 | |
| Born | 3 March 1879 Dunskey, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland |
| Died | 25 October 1961 (aged 82) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Buried | Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom Canada |
| Service/ | British Army Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | Imperial Yeomanry |
| Commands held | 24th Battalion, CEF |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order & Bar Efficiency Decoration Mentioned in Despatches (4) Croix de Guerre (France) |
William Hew Clark-Kennedy, VC, CMG, DSO & Bar, ED (3 March 1879 – 25 October 1961)[1] was a British-born Canadian soldier and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Family[edit]
William Clark-Kennedy was born on 3 March 1879 at Dunskey House, near Portpatrick on the Scottish Rhins of Galloway.[2] His mother was Lettice Lucy Hewitt (c. 1853–1930), a daughter of the Fourth Viscount of Lifford. His father was Captain Alexander William Maxwell Clark-Kennedy (Irish Guards) of Knockgray, Galloway (-1894).[3]
Victoria Cross[edit]
William Clark-Kennedy was 39 years old, and a lieutenant colonel commanding the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles of Canada), Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 27/28 August 1918 on the Fresnes-Rouvroy line, France, the brigade of which Lieutenant Colonel Clark-Kennedy's battalion was a central unit suffered heavy casualties. At this juncture the colonel encouraged his men and led them forward, then by controlling the direction of neighbouring units and collecting stragglers he enabled the whole brigade front to advance. Next day he was severely wounded, but despite intense pain and loss of blood, he refused to be evacuated until he had gained a position from which the advance could be resumed.[4]
Clark-Kennedy is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Pine Hill Section, Reford Family Plot, Lot 258).
Freemasonry[edit]
He was Initiated into Freemasonry in St Paul's Lodge, No. 12, (Montreal, Canada) on 6 February, Passed on 10 April and Raised 8 May 1906.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ "DHH – Victoria Cross – First World War". 14 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ Diana Henry (transcription); Randy Chappell (compiler) (May 2012). "Birth Notices from the Wigtownshire Free Press". Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "Memorial To Remember Carsphairn War Hero To Be Unveiled". DGWGO. 22 August 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "No. 31067". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1918. pp. 14773–14774.
- ^ The Great War 1914-1918 Victoria Cross Freemasons. Granville Angell. 2014. Pp.115-117. ISBN 978-0-9563661-7-7
External links[edit]
- 1879 births
- 1961 deaths
- Nobility from Dumfries and Galloway
- Military personnel from Dumfries and Galloway
- People educated at Westminster School, London
- Canadian Expeditionary Force officers
- Scottish emigrants to Canada
- Canadian World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
- British Army personnel of the Second Boer War
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
- British colonial army officers
- Burials at Mount Royal Cemetery
- Canadian military personnel of World War I