Description
1914 Star Trio, Able Seaman George Kennard, Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who drowned during the war in strange circumstances, with photograph in uniform.
1914 Star officially impressed in large RNVR style: “SX5/171. G. Kennard. A.B. R.N.V.R. Howe Bttn. R.N.D.”
WW1 Pair officially impressed: “S.5-171 G. Kennard. A.B. R.N.V.R.”
A rare award of the 1914 Star to the R.N.V.R., he served from the start of the war in Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division.
George Kennard was born on 17th June 1893.
He was the son of George and Naomie Kennard, of 46 Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, Sussex.
He was a Painter when he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 25th August 1910 shortly after his 17th Birthday.
When his services were required, he was brought in on 9th August 1914, with the outbreak of the War at HMS Victory I.
Being assigned to Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division, who he served with until 28th October 1914.
During this time the Howe Battalion, of the 8 Infantry Battalions of the RNVR, he served overseas in Belgium and France in the early stages of the war.
Following a short return to the barracks at Victory I he was assigned to join the crew of HMS Virginian on 5th December 1914.
HMS Virginian was a requisitioned ship of the Merchant Navy, previously RMS Virginian, which was outfitted as an Armed Merchant Cruiser.
He is photographed in his local newspaper, with a F. Clarke, both of the men were from Hastings.
“REPAIRING SHOES
PHOTO OF KENNARD AND CLARKE
Two Hastings men, of the R.N.V.R. repairing shoes on HMS Virginian. They are F. Clarke and G. Kennard.
The photograph was sent to us by H. Clarke, 242, Harold Road, Clive Vale, Hastings.”
His service during the war came to an abrupt end on 16th December 1916, when he was officially discharged as dead, his papers state:
“Found dead in the Grading Dock, Liverpool, apparently he accidentally fell in the dock during fog.”
