The Fredericksburg Memorial Military Museum
CATALOG G1995-115A CEF Collection
| James Francis Kennedy SN 4604775 WWI 1916-1917: 97th Btn, Machine Gun Section, CEF
Born:
Purchased: 1992, Flea Market Bellsville, VA. |
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James Frances Kennedy joined the CEF in January of 1916 as an American Volunteer in the all American 97 Battalion
to fight in France. Originally trained in Toronto, Kennedy was a volunteered as a Lewis Machine gunner. He continually
wrote home to his mother, sending his hard pressed family money from his small soldier's pay. In July of 1916 they began their adventure "Over There", stopping at Camp Haldershot, Nova Scotia, to complete their fine tuning for the desperate struggle on the Western Front. In September 1917 the 97th sailed for England. His letters from the front continued to arrive at his mothers until the fateful day of Aug. 22, 1917 when he was killed while operating his MG in the trenches at hill 70 in the Lens section. He was buried on the battlefield behind the position where he fell. The battle ebbed and flowed over the area for weeks, subsequently evidence of his grave was lost forever, leaving Kennedy to sleep forever in the soil of France. His name is etched on the Canadian memorial on Vimy Ridge as missing but buried on the battlefield. This group was obtained from a dealer who purchased it from the estate of Kennedy's last surviving sister. She left all her worldly possessions to he church when she was forced to move to a nursing home. They sold the estate at a yard sale. A nephew (Mr. Dick Ward) was kind enough to provide photos and some of the personal possessions, which remained with the family.
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