Full name George William Kennedy Name George Kennedy Place of death Flanders, Belgium | Date of birth 12 March 1882 Role Scottish footballer | |
Date of death 16 November 1917(1917-11-16) (aged 35) Playing position Died November 16, 1917, Flanders | ||
Place of birth Dumfries, Scotland | ||
George William Kennedy (12 March 1882 – 16 November 1917) was a Scottish footballer. He played at left half or centre half.
He began his career in his native Dumfries with Maxwelltown Volunteers, one of the clubs who later merged to form Queen of the South.
He then made 45 appearances over two seasons playing for Lincoln City. Under David Calderhead, Lincoln pulled off an FA Cup upset when a goal by another ex-Maxwelltown Volunteers player, Norrie Fairgray, knocked out Chelsea 1–0 in a replay. Calderhead became Chelsea manager soon after and took Fairgray with him. Kennedy followed a year later.
Kennedy spent the years in the lead up to World War I playing for another team in West London, then-Southern League club, Brentford. George left Brentford at the end of the 1912–13 season, returning to Dumfries for the following season.
George Kennedy emigrated to Canada in June 1914. Sailing from Glasgow to Montreal on board the SS Grampian.
War service
Private 418239 G.W. Kennedy enlisted in the 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders Regiment) of the Canadian Infantry in March 1915 and was sent to France with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). He would subsequently be awarded both the Military Medal and Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry, and was also Mentioned in Despatches.
Having risen to the rank of Company Sergeant Major (CSM), Kennedy was wounded during the Third Battle of Ypres and subsequently died from his injuries on 16 November 1917. He was 35 years old.
CSM 418239 G. Kennedy is now buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, located 12 km west of Ypres close to the town of Poperinge.