I have attached a Tug of War Photo, Tim is 2nd from left back row. Scribbled on the photo are the numbers 1, 2 and 3 and the name O'Donnell (Could they be brothers?) Unfortunately the photo is not in good condition. Anyone able to help ?

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Anne14 |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 |
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Tim Kennedy 55686 resigned from the RIC to join the S.I.H. (44448). He subsequently resigned from the Army Sept 1902 at Stellenbosch to join the Johannesburg Police - I would like to know how to find his Police Number in Johannesburg in order to find out what became of him.
I have attached a Tug of War Photo, Tim is 2nd from left back row. Scribbled on the photo are the numbers 1, 2 and 3 and the name O'Donnell (Could they be brothers?) Unfortunately the photo is not in good condition. Anyone able to help ? ![]() |
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ballyroughan |
Tim Kennedy 55686 | #1 | ||
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Ann,
Two address's, which may be able to help. South African National Museum of Military History. Box 52090 Saxonwold. 2132 Johannesburg. Plus Chief of Staff Personnel, Director Documentation Service, Archives and Reserves, Private Bag x289, Pretoria, 0001 |
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Anne14 |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 | #2 | ||
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Thank you Ballyroughan, I will write to both addresses given.
This picture was taken in Johannesburg and shows Tim on the left, A167 on his collar. His colleague has 22A on his collar. As I am unfamiliar with insignia, can anyone explain the numbers and also the stripes on Tim's left cuff (not arm).
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ballyroughan |
Timothy Kennedy. | #3 | ||
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Anne.
The band on Tim's left cuff, is a duty band worn only when duty,usually blue and white,or red and white. The letter and numeral on the collar,is division and warrant number. The helmet plate,is open crown in white metal ,with Johannesburg Police in the circle,and in the centre E.R. cypher for Edward Rex. John. |
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Anne14 |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 | #4 | ||
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Thanks again. As well as writing to the addresses provided for South Africa, should I quote these Divisional and Warrant numbers to find out if records of personnel indices are available from the National Archives at Kew. Incidentally, the letter and numbers (A.167) are on the opposite side and in reverse order for his colleague (22.A), is this significant or are some more missing from view in the photo!
I think the Tug of War photo must have been taken in South Africa and later than King Edward's reign (1910), I can't deciper ER on the original photo, could it have been GR? The attached photo was taken on the 9th May 1902 (in Ireland), Tim was aged 30 and I think looks much younger than in the two other photos (which I don't have dates for). Anne
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Peter Mc RIC |
The Imperial Yeomanry | #5 | ||
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Anne - as his service record shows he resigned the RIC in March 1902 to join the Imperial Yeomanry, and was billeted at the Curragh along with many others from the RIC who also joined up, until mobilisation in May 1902. His Sgt-Major at the time was Evelyn P Dickenson; another famous ex-RIC Rough Rider who also joined the South Irish Horse.
The medal you see on his chest is that of the 1900 Visit to Ireland; no formal roll exists for this but since he was based in Meath at the time and given his height, at over 6' 2", it is very probable that he was part of a guard of honour during Her Majesty's Visit. |
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ballyroughan |
Timothy Kennedy. | #6 | ||
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Ann,yes you can give as much information as you have, it will help with identification of the person, if those address's can not help ,they will pass your letter on to those who can.
I know you can not see the centre of the helmet plate in your photograph, but the open crown on the helmet plus uniform's help identify and date the organization,to see illustration of helmet plate ,ask any good library to find you a copy of =The Military Badges of South Africa & Rhodesia, from 1850-1976, by Colin. R.Owen,Pub 1976.incidentally i think the photo date's from around 1908, and both men have just been promoted to the rank of sergeant ,of which they seem very proud.
Last Edited By: ballyroughan 8-Aug-2010 6:39 PM.
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Anne14 |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 | #7 | ||
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This is wonderful information to receive. I am very grateful to you both for sharing it. Every little piece of information helps to build up a picture of his life. As soon as I get a reply from South Africa with hopefully more information I will report back to you.
Thanks again John and Peter. |
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Anne14 |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 | #8 | ||
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I wondered if he would be allowed to display an RIC medal on an Army uniform. No issue of medals are listed on his RIC discharge papers under the heading Awards/Marks of Distinction. Is it possible that the Queen's South Africa medal was issued following training at the Curragh and prior to departure to South Africa. Anne |
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ballyroughan |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 | #9 | ||
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All medal's awarded by the sovereign in His or Her name ,would be displayed on service dress, by a ribbon bar unless otherwise instructed to wear actual medal's in full dress or on parade.
The King's South Africa Medal, i,believe was never issued with out the Queen's medal and was awarded to all personnel engaged in operations in South Africa in 1901-02,so the medal on Kennedy's breast may well be the visit to Ireland 1903. The only medal's given in his paper's would normally be for the ,Constabulary medal,or King's police medal ,and then not all way's |
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Peter Mc RIC |
#10 | |||
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Anne - no chance that the Queens South Africa medal would have been issued in advance. It had to be earned and the qualification was that service had to have been in South Africa (note past tense). Timothy Kennedy was, as your family history points out, only just entitled and probably one of the last batch. The QSA in Kennedy's case would have been issued with clasp 'South Africa 1902' denoting service between 1st January and 31st May 1902 inclusive. He wouldn't have received the KSA either, as that required 18 months service prior to June 1902.
No wonder some older hands resented or teased him about his medal entitlement, he was probably just disembarking at Cape Town on the 31st! Could you scan and post a close up of the medal on his chest at the Curragh? I'm convinced its the Visit medal but if we can see the top suspender it would confirm it.
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 14-Aug-2010 3:51 PM.
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ballyroughan |
Timothy Kennedy55686 | #11 | ||
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Ann,
On taking a close look at your photo taken at the Curragh camp, i can see he is wearing the 1900 visit medal where one can just make out the the suspension brooch of shamrocks. After seeing his service paper's, and by them, that he was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal,with two bar's or clasp's,Cap colony,& South africa 1902 so in conclusion, the medal bar worn in the police photograph is probably by the look of it, the Q.S.A.medal. |
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Anne14 |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 | #12 | ||
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I have scanned in a portion of the photo taken at the Curragh dated 9th May 1902, using a high resolution and I welcome your informed views on the medal.
Anne
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Peter Mc RIC |
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Yes thats the Visit medal. It would have been engraved "C. T. Kennedy R.I.C." Thanks for the photo Anne.
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Anne14 |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 | #14 | ||
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Hi Peter and John, Just this morning I received an email from Terry Cawood, of SA War Graves Project, and I think we have found him - fingers crossed for me !. I will update when I receive more definite information. Anne |
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Peter Mc RIC |
#15 | |||
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Did you ever download his service papers as per John's first post? I believe they contained a lot of information.
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Anne14 |
Timothy Kennedy 55686 | #16 | ||
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Finally closure on my quest for Tim Kennedy. Help came from Rosemary Dixon Smith. Ralph McLean and Terry Cawood of the South Africa War Graves Project. Terry Cawood who emailed a photo he took of Tim's headstone & Service Card. Author Terence King for an explanation of his career path. I obtained Tim's Death Notice and Estate Papers from Nicola Bennett www.ancestor.co.za. I want to thank everyone and anyone who gave such invaluable help along the way, especially Peter Mc RIC and John Ballyroughan. In the meantime I will continue to read from this very interesting and informative forum.
Last Edited By: Anne14 30-Sep-2010 10:07 AM.
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