Description
Distinguished Service Medal, GV, Petty Officer A.E. Kennett, HMS Skilful,
Officially impressed: 183716 A.E. Kennett, P.O. “Skilful” 1918
Announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette, 20th September 1918 for “Honours for services in Destroyers of the Harwich Force between 1st January and 30th June 1918.”
During this period, Capt Crohan in command of the Skilful “received their Lordships appreciation for the manner in which he attacked an enemy submarine with his R Class Destroy Skilful on 17th May 1918”
Also earned the 1914-15 Star Trio, and a Naval LSGC on 31st Jan 1913.
Arthur Edward Kennett was born on 28th December 1879 at Boughton, Kent.
Going straight from School he signed on with the Royal Navy on 22nd April 1895 when he was just 15 years old as a Boy 2nd Class.
He became of age signing on for his 12 years term of engagement on 24th December 1897, and would alter sign on again to finish out 21 years on 24th December 1909.
He became of age on the Repulse, becoming an Ordinary Seaman on 24th December 1897, being promoted to Able Seaman there on 1st August 1898.
On the Diadem he was promoted to Leading Seaman on 1st July 1906, only for a few months before being once again promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 27th October 1906.
Whilst on the Wildfire the next year, he rose to Petty Officer 1st Class on 3rd September 1907.
During WW1, he rose further when he followed Captain Crohan from the Miranda over to the Skilful, after earning his DSM he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer on 1st December 1918.
He was discharged in 1920, having served about 23 years.
He returned home to Faversham in Kent.
Later shown on the 1939 Register living on Cyprus Road in Faversham where he worked a Wholesale Grocers Storeman.
He was additionally noted as “Long Service Pensioner”, his son Sydney was an Air Raid Precautions Messenger Boy.
WW1 Services:
HMS Mars, 14th July 1914 – 11th August 1914
HMS Pembroke I, 12th August 1914 – 24th August 1914
HMS Miranda (borne on Dido), 25th August 1914 – 19th September 1914
HMS Miranda (borne on Woolwich), 20th September 1914 – 31st October 1914
HMS Miranda (borne on Dido), 1st November 1914 – 31st March 1917
HMS Skilful (borne on Dido), 1st April 1917 – 31st January 1919.
HMS Skilful (borne on Actaeon), 1st Feb 1919 – 14th May 1919.
He was demobilised and pensioned from HMS Actaeon as Chief Petty Officer on 20th January 1920.
As can be seen, Chief Petty Officer Kennett saw extensive ship service during the war on 2 Destroyers, HMS Miranda and HMS Skilful, having transferred over with his Captain from the Miranda to the Skilful when it was commissioned in April 1917.
Kennett first joined HMS Miranda, on her first Wartime Commission under Commander Domvile from 10th August 1914.
During this time he took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank on 24th January 1915, where the Miranda fired a torpedo at 11 am from 5,5500 yards from 135R and 20 knots target, securing (it was believed and reported) as a hit under the bridge of its target.
On 3rd May 1915, Commander Patrick Birmingham Crohan would take over the command, and Kennett would serve under him for the rest of the war.
On 10th March 1916, the Miranda would collide with HMS Lennox, leading to Lt Cdr Crohan being blamed for the accident and told to be more careful in the future.
Following on from this Cdr Crohan left the ship to take over command of HMS Skilful from April 1917, the same day that Kennett went over to join him.
This would lead to various brave acts, first off as the ship set off in April, Crohan was lauded for his “promptitude in attacking an enemy submarine & of seaman like & gallant manner in which he went alongside a steamship burning furiously & saved the survivors”
Later that year in September, his papers would recall that “In Sept 1917, Great Credit is due to Lt Commander Crohan for his conduct on the occasions of HMS Sharpshooter being mined. Is to be mentioned in despatches for his services with enemy submarines, LG 17.11.17”.
He was once again in action with enemy submarines receiving a further “Lordships Appreciation” for “the manner in which he attacked an enemy submarine with his R Class Destroyer Skilful on 30th November 1917.”
During 1918, Petty Officer Kennett was decorated with this Distinguished Service Medal for his services between 1st January and 30th June 1918.
Of note during this period was yet another attack on an enemy submarine being commended once again for an attack on an enemy submarine on 17th May 1918.
Whilst Kennett got a DSM, his Captain got a Legion D’Honneur as well as the French Croix de Guerre.
