In Memory of
KENNEDY JOHN ALEXANDER
Private, F/29838
West Nova Scotia Regiment, RCIC
who died 33 age
02 August 1943
Remembered with honour
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born:February 21, 1910 Crannell, Nova Scotia
Enlistment:October 10, 1939 Halifax, Nova Scotia
Son of John and Minnie Kennedy. Husband of Anna Kennedy of Port Hastings, Nova Scotia.
The Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM), 2018-08-21
John got killed in action during the attack on Monte Criscina. Below is a part of West Novas by Thomas H. Raddall about the action where the West Novas lost 20 men killed and 35 wounded.
"On the morning of Aug. 2nd the West Novas pushed forward to occupy Monte Criscina with "D" Company (Capt. A. W. Rogers) in the lead. As Rogers and his men got well across the intervening low ground they suddenly came under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from enemy troops dug in and concealed on the lower slopes of the big hill. "A" Company (Lieut . Ross Guy) moved up to the right to support the attack but shortly afternoon it too was pinned to the foot of the slope by the German bullet storm. The saga of these two companies during the ding-dong fight which followed contains many a tale of individual heroism, for both made gallant and repeated efforts to close with the enemy.
Sgt. R.H. Ellis, who had behaved so gallantly at Catenanuova, was killed while leading his platoon in a determined effort to wipe out two German machine-gun posts on the face of the hill. Pte. F.W. Keyes was killed while carrying a message across the deadly open to Lieut. Charles Reeves.
Reeves himself was fatally wounded as he led his platoon in another attack soon afterwards. Stretcher-bearer Gordon Spinney (who later received the Military Medal) worked courageously to aid the wounded lying on the slope. Lieut. E.N. Doane, in charge of "A" Company's mortars, exposed himself repeatedly in his efforts to get his weapons to bear on the German defences.
In one of the abortive attacks the Bren gunners of one forward section were killed or wounded, leaving the rest in a dangerous position without covering fire. Pte. Thomas Martell dashed to the gun and carried it forward, together with the ammunition clips, in full view of the enemy. (Martell later received the Distinguished Conduct Medal) In the same situation Pte. G. J. Doucette picked up his Bren and dashed straight up the hill, firing from the hip at the German riflemen. His daring and determined rush carried him far up the slope but he was shot down as he paused to reload.
The British artillery observer with "A" Company had vanished, leaving nothing but his plotting board. What was worse, the company's "18" radio set (a portable set carried on a signalman's back, having a range of 300 yards to 5 miles, depending on local conditions) had been damaged, so that no communication with Battalion HQ was possible for several hours. "D" Company was in somewhat similar case. Thus there was no forward observation for the supporting troop of British self-propelled guns. However "B" Company from its positions on Whistling Hill could see the plight of the forward companies and could observe a certain amount of enemy movement on the Criscina slopes, and with Capt. Cameron and Lieut. D. I . Rice acting as spotters the artillery was brought to bear. By this time a section of Vickers (heavy machine-guns ) had arrived on Whistling Hill, and the resulting combined shoot, although on a minor scale, was a little gem of its kind.
At various points German infantry were flushed out of cover on the Criscina slopes and mowed down by the busy machineguns. Under cover of this fire "D" and "A" companies were able to disengage and withdraw to reorganize for further action, while "C" Company moved up on the right flank of "B" to help cover the retreat . The wounded were brought back safely but of necessity the dead were left where they fell. The sun was now going down and it was intended to put in another attack after dark; but at 7 P.M. Brigadier Penhale, accompanied by the chief artillery officer of 78th Division, came to West Nova HQ for a conference with Lt . Col. Bogert and decided against it."
It is certain that John was killed during this daring attack. He was initially buried in a field grave at La Rosamarina and later reburied at Agira Canadian War Cemetery.
John was married to Anna and together they had a daughter, Edith Margaret who was born in November 1933. They lived in Port Hawkesbury. John's mother lived in Port Hastings and he had three brothers and four sisters.
John enlisted on 4 September 1939 in Halifax.
"On the morning of Aug. 2nd the West Novas pushed forward to occupy Monte Criscina with "D" Company (Capt. A. W. Rogers) in the lead. As Rogers and his men got well across the intervening low ground they suddenly came under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from enemy troops dug in and concealed on the lower slopes of the big hill. "A" Company (Lieut . Ross Guy) moved up to the right to support the attack but shortly afternoon it too was pinned to the foot of the slope by the German bullet storm. The saga of these two companies during the ding-dong fight which followed contains many a tale of individual heroism, for both made gallant and repeated efforts to close with the enemy.
Sgt. R.H. Ellis, who had behaved so gallantly at Catenanuova, was killed while leading his platoon in a determined effort to wipe out two German machine-gun posts on the face of the hill. Pte. F.W. Keyes was killed while carrying a message across the deadly open to Lieut. Charles Reeves.
Reeves himself was fatally wounded as he led his platoon in another attack soon afterwards. Stretcher-bearer Gordon Spinney (who later received the Military Medal) worked courageously to aid the wounded lying on the slope. Lieut. E.N. Doane, in charge of "A" Company's mortars, exposed himself repeatedly in his efforts to get his weapons to bear on the German defences.
In one of the abortive attacks the Bren gunners of one forward section were killed or wounded, leaving the rest in a dangerous position without covering fire. Pte. Thomas Martell dashed to the gun and carried it forward, together with the ammunition clips, in full view of the enemy. (Martell later received the Distinguished Conduct Medal) In the same situation Pte. G. J. Doucette picked up his Bren and dashed straight up the hill, firing from the hip at the German riflemen. His daring and determined rush carried him far up the slope but he was shot down as he paused to reload.
The British artillery observer with "A" Company had vanished, leaving nothing but his plotting board. What was worse, the company's "18" radio set (a portable set carried on a signalman's back, having a range of 300 yards to 5 miles, depending on local conditions) had been damaged, so that no communication with Battalion HQ was possible for several hours. "D" Company was in somewhat similar case. Thus there was no forward observation for the supporting troop of British self-propelled guns. However "B" Company from its positions on Whistling Hill could see the plight of the forward companies and could observe a certain amount of enemy movement on the Criscina slopes, and with Capt. Cameron and Lieut. D. I . Rice acting as spotters the artillery was brought to bear. By this time a section of Vickers (heavy machine-guns ) had arrived on Whistling Hill, and the resulting combined shoot, although on a minor scale, was a little gem of its kind.
At various points German infantry were flushed out of cover on the Criscina slopes and mowed down by the busy machineguns. Under cover of this fire "D" and "A" companies were able to disengage and withdraw to reorganize for further action, while "C" Company moved up on the right flank of "B" to help cover the retreat . The wounded were brought back safely but of necessity the dead were left where they fell. The sun was now going down and it was intended to put in another attack after dark; but at 7 P.M. Brigadier Penhale, accompanied by the chief artillery officer of 78th Division, came to West Nova HQ for a conference with Lt . Col. Bogert and decided against it."
It is certain that John was killed during this daring attack. He was initially buried in a field grave at La Rosamarina and later reburied at Agira Canadian War Cemetery.
John was married to Anna and together they had a daughter, Edith Margaret who was born in November 1933. They lived in Port Hawkesbury. John's mother lived in Port Hastings and he had three brothers and four sisters.
John enlisted on 4 September 1939 in Halifax.
Jimbo Jimmy, 2024-10-19
Information courtesy of the 