Kennedy George Image 2 Brentford 1912

Description

Dumfries born left or centre half George Kennedy began his football career with Maxwelltown Volunteers before signing for Second Division Lincoln City in the summer of 1906, making his Football League debut against Barnsley that October. 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 after 45 appearances for The Imps, but made only 12 appearances for Chelsea during 1908-09 and after a season in the reserves he joined Southern League Brentford in 1910.

He had three seasons with Brentford scoring twice in 78 appearances, returning to Scotland to play for Dumfries in 1913 before he emigrated to Canada in June 1914, just before the outbreak of the First World War. 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 (Passchendaele) and subsequently died from his injuries on 16th 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.