KENNEDY, Percival Finnister (1906-1923)
KENNEDY, Percival Finnister (1906-1923)
Percy Kennedy was accidentally killed in an accident with a machine gun at the Newtown Drill Hall. He was the only son of Joseph Kennedy and Lavinia nee Davies of Rochester, Victoria and entered the School in 1922 after previously attending Rochester Higher Elementary School.
The Argus newspaper described the incident as follows:
‘With several other boys, Percy Kennedy, aged 16 years, a student at Geelong College, was cleaning a Lewis gun at the Newtown Drill Hall at 5 o' clock this afternoon when a cartridge exploded, and he was shot in the stomach. The bullet was embedded in the liver. The lad was assisted by his companions, and was conveyed by ambulance to the Somerton private hospital by Lieutenant Wilson, who was present when the accident occurred.'
A further Argus newspaper report two days later announced that ‘A military board of inquiry, consisting of Major Henry Speed (chairman), Major J W Edgar, and Captain Heseltine, of the Headquarters' staff, took evidence today concerning the mishap with a Lewis gun which occurred at the Newtown drill hall on Tuesday afternoon, and which resulted in the death of Percy Kennedy, a student at Geelong College. Lieut Wilson, who was demonstrating the working of the gun when the accident occurred, and other witnesses were examined. Press representative were not admitted to the inquiry but at the conclusion Major Speed said that a recommendation would be made to headquarters’ .
The following week the Argus reported Lieutenant Hugh Wilson as being charged with manslaughter. Percy's uncle, Archibald Kennedy, of Newtown, said Percy told him in hospital no-one was to blame. A memorial in the form of chairs for the stage at Norman Morrison Memorial Hall was subscribed to by students of the School. These chairs were to bear a silver plate with an inscription.
Percy Kennedy was accidentally killed in an accident with a machine gun at the Newtown Drill Hall. He was the only son of Joseph Kennedy and Lavinia nee Davies of Rochester, Victoria and entered the School in 1922 after previously attending Rochester Higher Elementary School.
The Argus newspaper described the incident as follows:
‘With several other boys, Percy Kennedy, aged 16 years, a student at Geelong College, was cleaning a Lewis gun at the Newtown Drill Hall at 5 o' clock this afternoon when a cartridge exploded, and he was shot in the stomach. The bullet was embedded in the liver. The lad was assisted by his companions, and was conveyed by ambulance to the Somerton private hospital by Lieutenant Wilson, who was present when the accident occurred.'
A further Argus newspaper report two days later announced that ‘A military board of inquiry, consisting of Major Henry Speed (chairman), Major J W Edgar, and Captain Heseltine, of the Headquarters' staff, took evidence today concerning the mishap with a Lewis gun which occurred at the Newtown drill hall on Tuesday afternoon, and which resulted in the death of Percy Kennedy, a student at Geelong College. Lieut Wilson, who was demonstrating the working of the gun when the accident occurred, and other witnesses were examined. Press representative were not admitted to the inquiry but at the conclusion Major Speed said that a recommendation would be made to headquarters’ .
The following week the Argus reported Lieutenant Hugh Wilson as being charged with manslaughter. Percy's uncle, Archibald Kennedy, of Newtown, said Percy told him in hospital no-one was to blame. A memorial in the form of chairs for the stage at Norman Morrison Memorial Hall was subscribed to by students of the School. These chairs were to bear a silver plate with an inscription.
Source
Argus (Melb) 9 May 1923 p 9; Argus (Melb) 11 May 1923; Argus (Melb) 15 May 1923 p 19; Pegasus August 1923 p 7; Pegasus December 1923 p 50; Pegasus December 1924 p 4.