William Michael Kennedy

William Michael Kennedy was from Corboy, near Edgeworthstown, one of the youngest of a large family; on his attestment to the Royal Navy, William gave his date of birth as the 8 Mar 1885, although his birth registry gives it as being on or around the 24 Feb 1887.

William enlisted with the Royal Navy on the 29 Dec 1906 as a Stoker for a period of 5 years, later extended to 12 years, and served on a number of RN ships/bases, including the HMS Nelson (training ship), the Apollo-class HMS Terpsichore, HMS Victory; HMS Crescent; and the HMS King Alfred; during this period he trained as an Engine Room Artificer. 

At the outbreak of World War 1 William was serving on the HMS Adamant, a submarine depot ship, and and was primarily based in the eastern Meditteranian theatre. He served on Adamant until 1917, before transferring to the HMS Victory II shore base, and later serving on other ships including the HMS Blenheim, HMS Ribble, and the HMS Egmont, the renamed Royal Navy base at Fort St. Angelo Malta, before being transferred back to the Victory II in May 1918. However in July 1918 William appears to have went AWOL from the Royal Navy. 

Link to 'Distinguished Edgeworthstown Man, Longford Leader, 1 Apr 1916; probable Civil Record of Birth; first Royal Navy enlistment (fold3.com, subscription site) 1909 Royal Navy continuation (fold3.com); potential Civil Record of Death;