Michael Kavanagh Horsley Kennedy

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Michael Kavanagh Horsley Kennedy (10 August, 1883 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Bombay, India. Kennedy gained three months' time on passing out of Britannia in mid May, 1900 and being appointed to Royal Sovereign in the Mediterranean. On 8 December, however, he was invalided from the ship, presumably with Mediterranean Fever, and sent back to England, arriving on the 2nd of January, 1901 and entering Plymouth Hospital on the 3rd. He was not found fit until 22 April. On 10 May, he was appointed to the battleship Magnificent in the Channel Fleet.[1]

Kennedy would break his clavicle while in Magnificent and again be admitted to Plymouth Hospital on 9 February, 1903. He left the ship to attend the Naval College in August, 1903.[2]

Kennedy spent some time in 1904 serving in Velox, transferred later that year to the third class protected cruiser Proserpine in the East Indies and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1905. He continued his work in Proserpine in lieu of a Sublieutenant until the ship paid off on 13 September, 1906.[3]

In January 1909, Kennedy applied for appointment as senior lieutenant in a Tribal class destroyer.

Kennedy was appointed in command of the destroyer Flying Fish on 26 November, 1910.[4]

On 22 July, 1913 while in command of Flying Fish, Kennedy collided with a buoy at Dover. The Admiral of Patrols John de Robeck informed him that he had demonstrated a lack of seamanlike care and forethought on the occasion.[5]

Kennedy was appointed in command of the destroyer Phoenix on 14 August, 1913.[6]

Kennedy was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1913.[7]

In May 1915, Phoenix collided with the trawler Roxdeen (?). Kennedy was placed under arrest on 14 May, pending trial by Court Martial. On 7 July, he was informed by Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets that he had incurred Their Lordships' "severe displeasure".[8]

Kennedy gave up command of Phoenix on 4 June, 1916 when he was transferred to take command of the "M" Class destroyer Pigeon.[9]

In December, 1916, Kennedy was recommended for promotion by Captain Farie.

On 5 June, 1917 Kennedy was found drunk on board a ship whose name is illegible, but the charge was not proved at a Court Martial. However, in mid June Kennedy was superseded in Pigeon and assumed command of the "R" Class destroyer Restless, operating as part of the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla.

Kennedy was next appointed in command of the destroyer Kestrel on 10 April, 1918.[10]

Post-War

At the end of October, 1919, Kennedy was placed in charge of a group of "P" and "PC" boats in Devonport that were being reduced to Construction and Maintenance parties. On 27 November, he moved over to help with ex-German ships. This was followed by some unemployed time and, in mid-1920, a temporary appointment with Laburnum, additional. On 2 September, 1920, he was placed on the Retired List at his own request.

Kennedy was promoted to the rank of Commander on 10 August, 1923.[11]

World War II

Kennedy was called up to serve with the Naval Officer in Charge, Holyhead in September, 1938. In late August, 1939 he became Staff Officer for Operations and Gunnery at Holyhead.

In 1941, he moved to Dover where he acted as Maintenance Commander, vice Gardner and then as Staff Officer, Administration also vice Gardner.

On 26 January, 1942 Kennedy was made X.D.O., Dover. He served there, working through some back ailments in 1944, until he was reverted to the Retired List on 30 August, 1945.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John P. Champion 		Captain of H.M.S. Flying Fish
26 Nov, 1910[12][13] – 14 Aug, 1913[14] 		Succeeded by
Montague R. Bernard
Preceded by
Francis A. W. Buller 		Captain of H.M.S. Phoenix
14 Aug, 1913[15][16] – 4 Jun, 1916[17] 		Succeeded by
Arthur E. H. Wright
Preceded by
Arthur E. H. Wright 		Captain of H.M.S. Pigeon
4 Jun, 1916[18][19] – 14 Jun, 1917[20] 		Succeeded by
Christopher J. F. Eddis
Preceded by
John O. Barron 		Captain of H.M.S. Restless
14 Jun, 1917[21][22] – 26 Feb, 1918[23] 		Succeeded by
John A. P. Legh
Preceded by
George H. Lang 		Captain of H.M.S. Kestrel
10 Apr, 1918[24][25] – 14 Feb, 1919[26] 		Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
James A. Douglas-Hamilton 		Captain of H.M.S. Obedient
14 Feb, 1919[27] – 31 Oct, 1919[28] 		Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  2. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  3. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  4. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 316.
  5. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  6. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396o.
  7. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  8. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  9. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 825.
  11. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  12. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  13. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 316.
  14. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  15. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  16. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396o.
  17. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  18. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  19. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 396n.
  20. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  21. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  22. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 397m.
  23. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  24. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  25. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 825.
  26. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  27. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.
  28. ↑ Kennedy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/97. f. 52.

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