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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 316

The R.H.S. Silver Medal awarded to Lieutenant (later Admiral, G.C.B.) W. R. Kennedy, Royal Navy, who published Hurrah for the life of a Sailor! Fifty years in the Royal Navy to sum up a remarkable career on the high seas, who also penned a fine painting of the action which earned his lifesaving award - the original accompanies the Lot

Royal Humane Society, small Silver Medal (successful) (Lieut. W. R. Kennedy. R.N. H.M.S. Wasp 22. June. 1860.), very fine, with silver riband buckle and in Warrington, London case

Provenance:
Spink, July 1998.

William Robert Kennedy was born at Naples, Italy on 14 March 1838, the second son of John Kennedy, the British Charge d'Affaires in Naples. Educated at Cheam School and Dr Maldon's, Brighton, young Kennedy was a Naval Cadet in 1851. He served in the Rodney during the Crimean War, being present for the bombardment and then in the trenches before Sebastopol and then the Sphinx for the bombardment of Kinburn (Medal & clasp, Turkish Medal). Appointed a Mate on Calcutta in May 1857, he was advanced Lieutenant by December 1857 and shared in the actions in China. Kennedy was in the boat action at Fatshan Creek being in the pinnace of his ship, besides in various engagements with pirates in those waters and also being 'mentioned' (London Gazette 1 August 1857 refers - Medal & 3 clasps).

By May 1860, Kennedy was on the Wasp in the waters off the Mozambique station and it was the following month whilst on a voyage to the Cape that his Lifesaving Medal was earned. Kennedy saved the life of Able Seaman John Sier, who fell overboard, when the rescue boat turned over, he acted with '...intrepidly and presence of mind' to jump over and swam to rescue Sier - the event immortalised in the painting which accompanies the Lot.

Kennedy continued to climb the ladder in the Royal Navy and was Flag Lieutenant on the Black Eagle at the Fleet Review on the visit of the Ottoman Sultan in July 1867. In June 1874 he was advanced Captain for his services during the Peruvian and Mexican Revolutions of 1872, also earned thanks from the Government of Salvador after an earthquake, the British residents presented a silver centre-piece in admiration and further was thanked by the German Government for saving lives of Captain and crew of the barque Anita when she was destroyed by fire in the Atlantic. Rear-Admiral by November 1889, Kennedy was made K.C.B. in June 1897, Admiral in June 1901 (retired November that year) and G.C.B. in June 1911.

The good Admiral married Edith Stopford, daughter of Captain Stopford and they lived for some time at Fair Oak, Rogate, Petersfield, Hampshire. He published various works on his career and died on 9 October 1916; sold together with the aforementioned painting signed 'WRK', copy of his book, two Navy & Army Illustrated with recipient on the front cover and copied research.

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Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£350