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Thread: My grandfather - a P&O Captain

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    Default 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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    Default

    Hi Max,
    Welcom to the site no doubt there will be someone here with answers. Keep looking in.
    Cheers
    Brian

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    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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    Default 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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    Default 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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    Default 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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    Default 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

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    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
    Keith at Tregenna Guest

    Default Re: Thanks!

    Quote Originally Posted by Max Johnson View Post
    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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