His gravestone, in North Merchiston Cemetery, Edinburgh.
.
![IMG_31693.JPG]()
.
Private Charles Kennedy, reservist, St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, enlisted at Edinburgh, September, 1891. He went through the Indian frontier war. Father's address, Westpark, Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday 1st December 1900
.
.
....The '"London Gazette'' last night announced that ihe King has been pleased to confer the Victoria Cross upon the following sergeant amd three privates for conspicuous bravery in South Africa:— Sergeant H. Hampton, of 2nd Battalion Liverpool Regiment, at Van Wyks Vlei, on August 21, 1900, Private H. G. Crandon, 18th Hussrs, at Springbok Laagte, on 4th July last, Private Durrant, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, at Bergendal, on 27th August, 1900, and Private C. Kennedy, 2nd Battalion Highland: Light Infantry, at Dewetsdorp, on 22nd November. 1900, [who] carried a comrade, who was dangerously wounded and bleeding to death, from Gibraltar Hill to the hospital, a distance of three quarters of a mile, under a very hot fire. On the following day volunteers having been called for to take a message to a commandant across a space over which it was almost certain death to venture, Private Kennedy at once stepped forward. He did not, however, succeed in delivering the message as he was severely wounded before he had gone twenty yards.
Aberdeen Journal, Saturday 19th October 1901
.
.
![IMG_32413.JPG]()
.
....The above is a portrait of Private Kennedy, belonging to 32 West Port, Edinburgh, a member of the Highland Light Infantry, who has been awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in South Africa. The portrait is from a photo by Mr. J. Drummond Shiels, Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Evening News, Thursday 24th October 1901
.
.
....The Victoria Cross.— The King will to-morrow present to Sergeant H. Hampton, 2nd King's (Liverpool) Regiment, and Private C. Kennedy, 2nd Highland Light Infantry, the Victoria Crosses which have been awarded to them for distinguished service in South Africa.
Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 16th December 1901
.
.
....The King held an investiture at St James's Park Palace yesterday, when he bestowed the insignia of a number of recently-conferred military honours. His Majesty, who was accompanied by Prince Charles of Denmark, left Marlborough House in a State carriage, attended by a field officer's escort of the 2nd Life Guards. He wore the uniform of a field-marshal. Two other State carriages took part in the procession conveying the members of His Majesty's suite. The King drove between lines of people to the Palace, where he was received by a number of State officers and officers of the headquarters staff, and was conducted to the Throne Room, where the investiture took piace.
....The King bestowed the Victoria Cross on Sergeant H. Hampton, of the 2nd King's (Liverpool) Regiment, and upon Private C. Kennedy, of the 2nd Highland Light Infantry, for valour displayed in South Africa. The recipients of the Orders numbered 100 in all.
....The two recipients of the Victoria Cross, on leaving the Palace, were received by a small group of their friends in civilian dress. His Majesty simply handed the Cross to the gallant men, and made no sort of speech, the length of the ceremony as a whole precluding anything in the nature of special commendation in each case. The Prince of Wales was present at the function.
Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 18th December 1901
.
Strangely, the Edinburgh Evening News appears not to have carried any mention of Kennedy's investiture.
.
.
....Deceased, who was 35 years of age, resided at 2 Castle Wynd. and served with the Highland Light Infantry in the South African campaign. He was the possessor of a Victoria Cross, awarded for conspicuous bravery in the war.
Dundee Courier, Thursday 25th April 1907
.
Private Charles Kennedy, reservist, St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, enlisted at Edinburgh, September, 1891. He went through the Indian frontier war. Father's address, Westpark, Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday 1st December 1900
.
.
....The '"London Gazette'' last night announced that ihe King has been pleased to confer the Victoria Cross upon the following sergeant amd three privates for conspicuous bravery in South Africa:— Sergeant H. Hampton, of 2nd Battalion Liverpool Regiment, at Van Wyks Vlei, on August 21, 1900, Private H. G. Crandon, 18th Hussrs, at Springbok Laagte, on 4th July last, Private Durrant, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, at Bergendal, on 27th August, 1900, and Private C. Kennedy, 2nd Battalion Highland: Light Infantry, at Dewetsdorp, on 22nd November. 1900, [who] carried a comrade, who was dangerously wounded and bleeding to death, from Gibraltar Hill to the hospital, a distance of three quarters of a mile, under a very hot fire. On the following day volunteers having been called for to take a message to a commandant across a space over which it was almost certain death to venture, Private Kennedy at once stepped forward. He did not, however, succeed in delivering the message as he was severely wounded before he had gone twenty yards.
Aberdeen Journal, Saturday 19th October 1901
.
.
AN EDINBURGH VICTORIA CROSS HERO.
.
....The above is a portrait of Private Kennedy, belonging to 32 West Port, Edinburgh, a member of the Highland Light Infantry, who has been awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in South Africa. The portrait is from a photo by Mr. J. Drummond Shiels, Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Evening News, Thursday 24th October 1901
.
.
....The Victoria Cross.— The King will to-morrow present to Sergeant H. Hampton, 2nd King's (Liverpool) Regiment, and Private C. Kennedy, 2nd Highland Light Infantry, the Victoria Crosses which have been awarded to them for distinguished service in South Africa.
Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 16th December 1901
.
.
....The King held an investiture at St James's Park Palace yesterday, when he bestowed the insignia of a number of recently-conferred military honours. His Majesty, who was accompanied by Prince Charles of Denmark, left Marlborough House in a State carriage, attended by a field officer's escort of the 2nd Life Guards. He wore the uniform of a field-marshal. Two other State carriages took part in the procession conveying the members of His Majesty's suite. The King drove between lines of people to the Palace, where he was received by a number of State officers and officers of the headquarters staff, and was conducted to the Throne Room, where the investiture took piace.
....The King bestowed the Victoria Cross on Sergeant H. Hampton, of the 2nd King's (Liverpool) Regiment, and upon Private C. Kennedy, of the 2nd Highland Light Infantry, for valour displayed in South Africa. The recipients of the Orders numbered 100 in all.
....The two recipients of the Victoria Cross, on leaving the Palace, were received by a small group of their friends in civilian dress. His Majesty simply handed the Cross to the gallant men, and made no sort of speech, the length of the ceremony as a whole precluding anything in the nature of special commendation in each case. The Prince of Wales was present at the function.
Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 18th December 1901
.
Strangely, the Edinburgh Evening News appears not to have carried any mention of Kennedy's investiture.
.
.
SCOTTISH V.C.'S TRAGIC DEATH.
.
KILLED BY RUNAWAY HORSE.
....A distressing fatality occurred yesterday forenoon in Leith Walk, Edinburgh. A young and spirited horse yoked to a contractor's cart, took fright in Montgomery Street and bolted. It made its way into Leith Walk, where it continued its wild career, the reins being dragged along the ground. An ex-soldier named Charles Kennedy, seeing the consequences which might accrue from the animal's continued flight, made a gallant attempt to stop it. He tried to pick up the reins, but in doing so he was struck by the shaft and knocked down. The rear wheel passed over his body, inflicting serious injuries. An ambulance waggon was procured for his removal to the Infirmary, but he succumbed before arrival at that institution.....Deceased, who was 35 years of age, resided at 2 Castle Wynd. and served with the Highland Light Infantry in the South African campaign. He was the possessor of a Victoria Cross, awarded for conspicuous bravery in the war.
Dundee Courier, Thursday 25th April 1907