William Clark-Kennedy

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.

For other people named William Kennedy, see William Kennedy (disambiguation).

William Hew Clark-Kennedy
Clark-Kennedy c. 1918
Born(1879-03-03)3 March 1879
Dunskey, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland
Died25 October 1961(1961-10-25) (aged 82)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Buried
Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Canada
Service/branchBritish Army
Canadian Expeditionary Force
RankLieutenant Colonel
UnitImperial Yeomanry
Commands held24th Battalion, CEF
Battles/warsSecond Boer War
First World War
AwardsVictoria 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)

Family

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

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

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
  1. "DHH – Victoria Cross – First World War". 14 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  2. 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.
  3. "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.
  4. "No. 31067". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1918. pp. 14773–14774.
  5. The Great War 1914-1918 Victoria Cross Freemasons. Granville Angell. 2014. Pp.115-117. ISBN 978-0-9563661-7-7
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