This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Kennedy, Finlay DCM played for Scotland Internationals: 5 : 1920 F+ (1c) W+ (2p) I+ (2c 1p) E- ; 1921 E- Finlay Kennedy was born on 23 January 1892 Played as a Prop/lock for: Stewart’s College, Stewart’s College Former Pupils Profession: Hotelier War service: 4300, Acting Lance-Corporal, Lovat’s Scouts and 225358, Company Quartermaster Sergeant, Cameron Highlanders: DCM. He died on 8 March 1925, in Edinburgh.
KENNEDY, Finlay Scotland On New Year's Day, 1920, Finlay Kennedy took the field at Parc des Princes to play for Scotland against France and thus became the first Stewart's FP internationalist at rugby. In his next game, against Wales at Inverleith, two magnificent penalty goals from near the touchline just inside the Welsh half virtually won the game for Scotland. Against Ireland, also at Inverleith he contributed 7 points with two conversions and one penalty. In all he played five times for Scotland and in his final game against England in 1921 he had the honour of leading the forwards who now included his clubmate J C R Buchanan and so for the first time two Stewart's FPs played in the Scottish team. Sadly, he died four years later largely because of the debilitating effects of malaria that he had contracted during the War.
Annie Thanks for that. Malaria suggests service in Macedonia or somewhere else warmer than the Western Front. His DCM citation still eludes me - there are lots of Kennedys listed in the Gazette! Gareth
