John Kennedy (British Army officer, born 1878)


Sir John Kennedy was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War and commanded 1st Infantry Division.

Military career

Educated at Haileybury, Kennedy was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1898. He served with the Egyptian Army until World War I when he fought on the Western Front: he became Commanding Officer of 7th Bn Seaforth Highlanders in 1916 and Commander of 26th Brigade in 1917. He was appointed Inspector of Infantry in 1918, Instructor at the Senior Officers School in 1919 and Commanding Officer of 2nd Bn The Buffs in 1923. He went on to be Commander of 19th Indian Infantry Brigade in 1926, General Officer Commanding 44th Division in January 1933 and General Officer Commanding 1st Infantry Division in April 1934 before retiring in 1937.