Private Francis Kennedy
The family background of this North Irish Horseman is not known for certain, but he may have been the Robert Francis Kennedy born on 1 April 1895 at 5 Abercorn Terrace, Rathmines, Dublin, the third of four children of insurance inspector Frederick James Kennedy and his wife Eleanor Jane (née Molloy). Around 1899 the family moved to Belfast. His father died on 24 January 1911. At the time of the 1911 Census the family was living at 8 Eia Street, Belfast, Robert Francis working as a jeweller's apprentice.
Kennedy enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Belfast on 1 September 1914 (No.1069 – later Corps of Hussars No.71221). He was described as being 5' 8" tall, with a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and grey eyes. He stated that he was 19 years old, was born in Dublin, and worked as a cine operator.
On 1 May 1915 he embarked for France with D Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 51st (Highland) Division.
In May 1916 D Squadron came together with A and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Kennedy remained with the regiment until the end of war. At some point between 1916 and 1918 he returned to the UK, perhaps sick or injured. He was reported to have deserted from the regiment's reserve base at Antrim on 4 October 1918 but must have returned to duty, for on 20 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.