8th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died:
09/09/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
Summary
Thomas James Kennedy was the eldest son of Samuel and Mary Kennedy of Tyresson, Cookstown. He had been in service with the South Irish Horse and volunteered on the outbreak of war and was given a Commission in the 36th Ulster Division, but was later transferred to the 16th Irish Division. Lieutenant Kennedy was attached to the 8th Inniskilling at the Somme where he was killed in action on 9th September 1916.
Further Information
Thomas James Kennedy was the eldest son of Samuel and Mary Kennedy. Thomas was born in County Tyrone about 1881.
The 1901 census lists Thomas as age 20 living with the family at house 4 in Teressan, Moneyhaw, County Londonderry. Thomas was working as a printer. His father, Samuel Kennedy, was a farmer.
The 1911 census does not list Thomas as living with the family at house 9 in Teressan, Moneyhaw, Londonderry.
Family: Samuel Kennedy, Mary Kennedy, Thomas J Kennedy (born about 1881), Joseph Kennedy (born about 1883), David Kennedy (born about 1886), Margaret Kennedy (born about 1889), Samuel Kennedy (born about 1892).
Before the war he had served his apprenticeship in the offices of the Mid Ulster Mail as a reporter, and was well known in journalistic circles in Dungannon, Londonderry, Dublin and Dundalk. He was, for a while, the editor of the “Northern Standard” in Monaghan.
Thomas J Kennedy had been in service with the South Irish Horse and volunteered on the outbreak of war and was given a Commission in the 36th Ulster Division.
1915
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th March 1915:
Mr Thomas Kennedy, eldest son of Mr Samuel Kennedy, Tyresson, Cookstown, has received a commission in the new army and will join the Cadet Training Corps of the Ulster Division previous to joining the Royal Irish Rifles. Lieutenant Kennedy served his apprenticeship in the machine department of the Mid Ulster Mail printing works, but before his time was completed he had qualified himself for a position as a reporter. He left to join the staff of the Sligo Independent, and has been on the staff of the Londonderry Standard, the Daily Express and the Tyrone Courier. He also launched out on his own account, and started a Unionist newspaper in Dundalk, with a complete office, but the plucky effort was faced with too much opposition, and had to be abandoned. He then was appointed editor of the Northern Standard, and old established and successful paper in Monaghan, which he has retained till the present, and has given active support to the recruiting in that county. He was also, some years ago, a member of the South Irish Horse, in which he learned the elements of soldiering. He has always been a keen devotee of outdoor sports, and was one of a group of gymnasts and runners for which Cookstown was noted in athletic circles some years ago. His many friends in journalistic circles in Ulster, as well as personal friends in Cookstown, wish Lieutenant Kennedy success and a safe return when the war is over.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 10th March 1915: A Journalist’s Commission, Compliment to Mr T J Kennedy, Monaghan
A deputation, representing the journalists of county Monaghan, waited on Mr Thomas J Kennedy yesterday at the headquarters of the Ulster Division Cadet Corps at Brownlow House, Lurgan, and made him the recipient of a presentation on the occasion of his departure from Monaghan. Mr Kennedy, who has occupied the position of managing editor of the Northern Standard, Monaghan, for a period of five years is extremely popular in that town, and particularly so amongst his colleagues in journalism. He is a member of the Ulster District of the Institute of Journalists, and is well-known in newspaper circles in Ireland. He has joined the Cadet Corps at Lurgan prior to taking up a commission in the Royal Irish Rifles. The presentation, which took the form of a handsome gold wristlet watch, with luminous dial, was made by Mr Samuel Bothwell, who succeeds Mr Kennedy in the position of managing editor. He paid an eloquent tribute to the many good qualities of Mr Kennedy as a journalist and gentleman , and wished him every success in his military career. He also conveyed to him the sincere good wishes of Mr William Swan, the proprietor of the Northern Standard. Mr J J Turley spoke of his association with Mr Kennedy in Monaghan and of the kindly, cordial, and genial relationship that always existed between them. He regretted the temporary departure of such a warm personal friend, and trusted that Mr Kennedy would return decorated with high military honours. Mr Kennedy, having suitably replied, the proceedings terminated.
1916
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th January 1916:
Second Lieutenant T J Kennedy, 12th (Reserve) Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has been promoted Lieutenant. He is a son of Samuel Kennedy, Tyressan, Cookstown, and well known in journalistic circles, commencing his career in the staff of the Mid Ulster Mail.
During the Dublin rebellion in April 1916 he was recommended for promotion for services in the field.
While attached to the 12th Inniskillings he was deployed to the Protestant Cathedral in Dublin, where he signalled to have the iron gates and doors open, and arranged to have his men cross under heavy fire without loss. It was through his courtesy afterwards that arrangements were made for a fifteen minute ceasefire so as to enable Mr. Richard Bowden, Administrator at the Protestant Cathedral to procure provisions for a large number of refugees who were compelled to take refuge with the men in the building.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 20th May 1916: Local Soldiers (furlough)
During the last ten days, quite a number of soldiers have been home on furlough. Mr T J Kennedy (son of Mr Samuel Kennedy), formerly of the Mid Ulster Mail staff, who is a lieutenant of the Inniskillings and did valuable work in quelling the Sinn Fein rebellion.
Lieutenant Kennedy later transferred to the 16th Irish Division.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 9th August 1916: Lieutenant Thomas J Kennedy
Mr Samuel Kennedy, Tyresson, Cookstown, has received a telegram from the War Office that his son, Lieutenant Thomas J Kennedy, was wounded on 4th August. Lieutenant Kennedy was a well-known journalist. He served his apprenticeship with the Mid Ulster Mail and prior to receiving his commission he was editor of the Northern Standard, Monaghan. Before going to the front he took part in quelling the rebellion in Dublin. He was recently transferred from the Ulster Division for service with the Irish Brigade. He is a brother of Mr A Kennedy, editor of the Lisburn Standard.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 12th August 1916:
Mr Samuel Kennedy, Tyresson, Cookstown, has received a telegram from the War Office that his son, Lieutenant T J Kennedy, has been wounded. Lieutenant Kennedy was a well-known journalist. He served his apprenticeship with the Mid Ulster Mail and prior to receiving his commission about eighteen months ago he was editor of the Northern Standard, Monaghan. Prior to going to France, he was on duty in Dublin during the Rebellion. He has written since that his wound was on his hand and that he hopes to be on duty again soon.
Lieutenant Kennedy was attached to the 8th Inniskillings at the Somme where he was killed in action on 9th September 1916.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 16th September 1916: Lieut. T J Kennedy killed
A telegram from the War Office was received on Friday afternoon informing Mr Samuel Kennedy, Tyresson, Cookstown, that his eldest son, Lieutenant Kennedy, of the Inniskillings, was killed in action in France on 9th September. He served his apprenticeship in the Mid Ulster Mail, and was well known in journalistic circles in Londonderry, Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk and Monaghan, and was the editor of the Northern Standard in the latter town when war was declared. He had been on the South Irish Horse, and volunteered for service, and was given a commission in the Ulster Division, being later transferred to the 16th Division. He was engaged during the Sinn Fein Rebellion with his battalion in Dublin, and his efforts were warmly commended by the administrator of the Pro-Cathedral, where he was stationed during most of Easter Week, and it was understood he was recommended for promotion.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 16th September 1916:
Lieutenant Thomas J Kennedy, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, killed in action on 9th September, was the eldest son of Mr Samuel Kennedy, Tyresson, Cookstown and a brother of Mr Joseph A Kennedy, editor of the Lisburn Standard. The late Lieutenant J Kennedy served his apprenticeship in the Mid Ulster Mail, and was well known in journalistic circles in Londonderry, Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk and Monaghan. Before joining the Service, he was the editor of the Monaghan Standard and local correspondent for the Belfast Newsletter. He had been in the South Irish Horse, and volunteered for service, and was given a commission in the Ulster Division, being later transferred to the 10th Division. He was engaged during the Sinn Fein Rebellion with his battalion in Dublin. It is understood he was recommended for promotion.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 20th September 1916: The Late Lieutenant T J Kennedy
At yesterday’s meeting of the Lisburn Board of Guardians, Lady Keightley residing, a resolution was passed expressing the members deep sympathy with Mr Joseph A Kennedy, journalist, in the loss he had sustained by the death of his brother, Lieutenant T J Kennedy, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was killed in action on 9th September, and the clerk was instructed to send a letter of condolence.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 21 September 1916:
Intimation has been received by Mr Samuel Kennedy, Tyresson, Cookstown, that his son, Lieutenant Thomas J Kennedy, Inniskilling Fusiliers, was killed in action on 9th September. Lieutenant Kennedy was a well known Ulster journalist, and for a time acted as a reporter for the Tyrone Courier, and proper to receiving his commission was editor of the Northern Standard, Monaghan. Before going to the front, he took part in the quelling of disturbances in Dublin. He was wounded on the 4th August last, but the injury, which was to the hand, was of a slight nature, and he was able to resume his duties in a short time.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916:
KENNEDY – Killed in action on 9th September 1916. Lieutenant T J Kennedy, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Ulster Division (attached to the Irish Brigade), eldest son of Samuel and Mary Kennedy, Tyresson, Cookstown. Deeply regretted by father, mother sisters and brothers.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916: Lieutenant T J Kennedy
A telegram from the War Office was received on Friday afternoon informing Mr Samuel Kennedy, Tyresson, Cookstown, that his eldest son, Lieutenant Kennedy, of the Inniskillings, was killed in action in France on 9th September. He served his apprenticeship in the Mid Ulster Mail, and was well known in journalistic circles in Londonderry, Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk and Monaghan, and was the editor of the Northern Standard in the latter town when war was declared. He had been on the South Irish Horse, and volunteered for service, and was given a commission in the Ulster Division, being later transferred to the 16th Division. He was engaged during the Sinn Fein Rebellion with his battalion in Dublin, and his efforts were warmly commended by the administrator of the Pro-Cathedral, where he was stationed during most of Easter Week, and it was understood he was recommended for promotion. The following letter was received from the Rev. Richard Bowden, B.A., Administrator of the Pro-Cathedral, dated 14th May 1916, and addressed to Sir John Maxwell K.C.B. (a copy of which is treasured by Lieutenant Kennedy’s parents), testified to the way he performed his duties. It runs:-
‘Sir. After the telephone message to the military to occupy the Pro-Cathedral, I deem it my duty to state to you my great appreciation of the efficiency and courtesy with which the occupation was carried out by the 12th Inniskillings. I wish to mention specially Mr Kennedy (Lieut), who signalled to have the iron gates and doors opened, and arranged for his men to cross under fire without loss, and through whose courtesy afterwards, arrangements were made to cease fire for fifteen minutes so as to enable me to procure provisions for the large number of refugees who were compelled by the fire to take refuge with us. Richard Bowden, Administrator, Pro Cathedral, (Dublin).’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916:
Major A J Walkey, of the 8th Inniskillings wrote:-
‘I regret having to inform you that your son was killed while leading his men during an attack on the 9th September. I have gathered that he was going down a trench with his bombers, when they met a party of Germans, who put up a fight, one of them throwing a bomb which killed your son. I am glad to say that afterwards some of his men got him away and buried him in decency. Please accept my sincerest sympathies in your bereavement.’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916:
Colonel Sir John Leslie Bart, of Glasslough, County Monaghan, commanding the 12th (R.) B., R. I. Fusiliers, writes to Mr Samuel Kennedy as follows:-
‘I cannot say how much I feel for you and your family in the loss you have sustained in the death of your gallant son. In this battalion, he was beloved by both officers and men, and none of us are more grieved by his loss than I am myself. I had always a very strong liking for him ever since the evening he offered me his services at Monaghan, where his talents as a journalist were fully recognised. No one helped me more than he did in forming the Battalion, where he was so quick to learn and impart the knowledge he had acquired. He accompanied me often on the recruiting platform, and none could speak better.’
Lieutenant Colonel J C Ker Fox, second in command of the 12th Inniskillings, writes from Finner Camp:-
‘I believer Sir John Leslie is writing to you on behalf of the battalion and himself to sympathise with you in your great loss. I myself have been away on duty for the last five days, and only returned on Saturday night, hoping that the news might not be correct, and was sorry to have it confirmed yesterday. I wish to tell you how much I personally regret the death of your gallant son. Although I am considerably more than twice his age, I had taken a great liking to him, and had seen a great deal of him, on and off duty. He was a brilliant young officer and if he had lived would, I am sure, have distinguished himself. He was very popular with all his brother officers, and deservedly so, for he was a kind hearted, good natured and cheery young fellow, whom we could ill spare. I wish I had words at my command to express my feelings better, but I bitterly regret his death, and feel most deeply and sincerely for his family and for you.‘
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916:
Rev P.D. McCaul of St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, writes as follows to Mr S Kennedy:-
You have my deepest sympathy in your great sorrow caused by the death of your son. During the week of the Rebellion I met him a good deal, and I must say that Lieutenant Kennedy was a general favourite with all the people staying in the Hamman Hotel. He was more than kind to myself, personally. He was affable, gentlemanly, fearless, and good humoured. I am deeply touched by his death. The loss of such a noble son is a crushing blow. His parents and other members of the family have my deepest sympathy. May God comfort you in your sorrow is the earnest prayer of one who greatly admired your darling son.”
At Monaghan Board of Guardians, at which Lieutenant Kennedy, at which Lieutenant Kennedy attended as a reporter, a vote of sympathy was passed by a standing vote.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916:
The following telegram has been received by Mr Kennedy:-
‘The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Army have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow. Keeper of the Privy Purse’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916:
From the Tyrone Courier dated 1st February 1917:
The late Lieutenant T J Kennedy, a native of Cookstown, and formerly a member of Cookstown, and formerly a member of the Tyrone Courier reporting staff, and Lieut W E Wylie, the well known K.C. and member of the North West Circuit, are among those ‘mentioned’ for their services in Dublin during the rebellion.
In a letter to his father Major A.J. Walkey of the 8th Inniskillings wrote:
“I regret to inform you that your son was killed while leading his men during an attack on the 9th September. I have gathered that he was going down a trench with his bombers, when they met a party of Germans, who put up a fight, one of them throwing a bomb which killed your son. I am glad to say that afterwards some of his men got him away and buried him in decency.”
In a letter to his father, the Reverend P.D. McCaul of St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, wrote
“During the week of the Dublin rebellion I met with Lieutenant Kennedy a good deal, and I must say that he was a general favourite with all the people staying in the Hamman Hotel. He was more than kind to myself, personally. He was affable, gentlemanly, fearless, and good humoured. I am deeply touched by his death. The loss of such a noble son is a crushing blow. His parents and other members of the family have my deepest sympathy. May God comfort you in your sorrow is the earnest prayer of one who greatly admired your darling son.”
Thomas J. Kennedy was buried at the time of his death but his grave could not be found later by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
He is therefore commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.
He is also commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph and Molesworth Presbyterian Roll of Honour, Cookstown
