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3rd October 2011, 11:41 AM
#1
My grandfather - a P&O Captain
Hi.
I've joined this site to try to find information about my Grandfather, George W. Kennerley, who was a captain with both P&O and Holts.
I'm trying to find anything about him, but particularly his career and his ships, of course.
I only know of three ships for certain. He was 2nd mate on the SS Caledonia in 1924, He was Captain of the John Holt on a voyage from Portland (Maine) to Swansea in 1935 and he was at some point Captain of the Robert L Holt. I have a silver ashtray given to him by the officers to commemorate 'Voyage 31, Outbound'. a lovely enamelled company flag at the centre, but no date, of course!
He was torpedoed four times in total during the first and second World Wars. The last time, when he was lost, near Durban, he was being transported home as he'd been taken ill at Aden. Because he was travelling as a passenger on that voyage it makes the incident much harder to trace - I don't even know the name of the ship.
I'l keep looking, and will no doubt be asking for advice on these forums.
Best to all.
Max Johnson
(Heysham)
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3rd October 2011, 11:59 AM
#2
Hi Max,
Welcom to the site no doubt there will be someone here with answers. Keep looking in.
Cheers
Brian
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3rd October 2011, 12:46 PM
#3
Max
If this is the correct George William Kennerley age 22, he signed on the “Sunheath” as 3rd Mate in Cardiff 7th February 1923, the ship arrived in Boston 20th July 1923 having sailed from Colombo
There is a George William Kennerley aged 42 Died at sea his death 28/11/1942 is commemorated by the CWGC as a Civilian Husband of D. Kennerley, of Weaver Villa, London Road, Northwich, Cheshire
CWGC :: Casualty Details
CWGC :: Cemetery Details
Nova Scotia (British Troop transport) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net
Ray
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5th October 2011, 03:51 PM
#4
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the replies.
Ray - I now know for the first time exactly when, where and the circumstances under which my Grandfather lost his life - and there's even a picture of the ship! I'm most grateful.
I have a photo of the ashtray that was presented to him on the Robert L Holt. I'll post that on a more appropriate thread, as it might be of general interest. Also further requests for info.
Best.
Max Johnson.
(Heysham).
Last edited by Max Johnson; 5th October 2011 at 06:41 PM.
Reason: Correction
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18th July 2018, 05:36 PM
#5
Re: Thanks!
Would just like to say thanks again. Ray's identification was correct. My grandfather joind the MN in 1914, at the age of 14. He was torpedoed twice during WW1, and twice during WW2.
George William Kennerley was one of 5 civillian passengers on Nova Scotia, having been taken ill somewhere and was being taken from Aden to Durban (and then presumably home to Northwich to convalesce). She was carrying Italian civilian POWs, and ironically and tragically was torpedoed and shelled by U177, going down in less then ten minutes, with the loss of 898 lives. This was an Official Secret both here and in Germany until some time after the war (and for all I know it still is).
Initial confusion was caused by the fact that at some point he left P&O to join Holt's, and the Robert L Holt of which he had at some point previously been captain had been sunk by a U Boat earlier in 1941.
Thanks again, and best wishes to all.
Max Johnson.
Heysham.
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18th July 2018, 09:51 PM
#6
Re: My grandfather - a P&O Captain
As stated
First name(s) |
G W |
Last name |
Kennerley |
Birth year |
- |
Death year |
1943 |
Death date |
Jul 1943 |
Place |
Nova Scotia |
Country |
Great Britain |
Reported date |
1943 |
Type |
At Sea |
Vessel name |
Nova Scotia |
Departure port |
- |
War |
- |
Source |
Deaths At Sea 1891 – 1972 |
Archive reference |
BT 334 |
Box |
0101 |
Archive |
The National Archives |
Record set |
British Armed Forces And Overseas Deaths And Burials |
Category |
Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records |
Subcategory |
Civil Deaths & Burials |
Collections from |
Great Britain, UK None |
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
R697530
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18th July 2018, 10:00 PM
#7
Re: My grandfather - a P&O Captain
Would this be the same one ???
First name(s) |
George William |
Last name |
Kennerley |
Event year |
1921 |
Birth year |
1900 |
Birth place |
Daventon |
Birth county/country |
- |
Birth date |
? ? 1900 |
Discharge number |
1016437 |
Card type |
CR1 |
Archive |
The National Archives |
Series |
BT349 |
Date range |
1921-1941 |
Record set |
Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1918-1941 |
Category |
Education & work |
Subcategory |
Merchant navy & maritime |
Collections from |
Great Britain, UK None |
Just of interest read this link it gives a lot of info on the RNR Lads that srved with Distinction n those Trawlers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Reserve
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 18th July 2018 at 10:46 PM.
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
R697530
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19th July 2018, 12:38 AM
#8
Re: Thanks!
Originally Posted by
Max Johnson
Would just like to say thanks again. Ray's identification was correct. My grandfather joind the MN in 1914, at the age of 14. He was torpedoed twice during WW1, and twice during WW2.
George William Kennerley was one of 5 civillian passengers on Nova Scotia, having been taken ill somewhere and was being taken from Aden to Durban (and then presumably home to Northwich to convalesce). She was carrying Italian civilian POWs, and ironically and tragically was torpedoed and shelled by U177, going down in less then ten minutes, with the loss of 898 lives. This was an Official Secret both here and in Germany until some time after the war (and for all I know it still is).
Initial confusion was caused by the fact that at some point he left P&O to join Holt's, and the Robert L Holt of which he had at some point previously been captain had been sunk by a U Boat earlier in 1941.
Thanks again, and best wishes to all.
Max Johnson.
Heysham.
See the request on site began many moons ago and
though I must have missed it, does show how the
team here always do there best. It is always worth
liaising, working with, updating and just not giving up.
Thanks all.
Keith.
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