KENNEDY

SGT. MICHAEL KENNEDY

Michael Kennedy was born in 1842 in County Westmeath, Ireland. While
still in Ireland he served on the Dublin Metropolitan Police Force.
After emigrating to Australia, he became a member of the Victoria
Police in 1864. He became a senior constable in 1873 and was promoted
to sergeant, second class in 1877.
He was very effective in combating stock theft in the areas he worked
in and was given many rewards (including a gold watch) by various
stock protection societies. Kennedy was well liked, an excellent
policeman, and a devoted family man.

On October 25, 1878 he was in charge of one of the search parties sent
out to apprehend the Kelly brothers. He and the other three members of
the party, Constables Michael Scanlon, Thomas Lonigan and Thomas
McIntyre camped near Stringybark Creek, not realising that Ned and Dan
Kelly along with friends Steve Hart and Joe Byrne were staying at a
fortified hut nearby. On the morning of Saturday, October 26, 1878,
Kennedy and Scanlon went out on patrol leaving McIntyre and Lonigan in
camp. At some point, McIntyre had fired at some parrots, which had
alerted the Kellys to the presence of others in the area. Upon
investigation they saw that they were police and thus they planned to
bail them up and take their weapons and horses. During the bail up
Lonigan was shot and McIntyre was taken prisoner, but not handcuffed.
When Kennedy and Scanlon returned, McIntyre did as Ned Kelly had told
him to do, which was try to get them to surrender. He told them that
they had better put up their hands as they were surrounded and Kennedy
thinking it was a joke, smiled and put his hand on his revolver. At
that time Ned and the others made their presence known and events
happened quickly with a warning shot being fired and the horses being
spooked.
Scanlon tried to unsling his rifle but was shot and killed and Kennedy
jumped off his horse and returned fire to the Kellys. His horse bolted
and was grabbed by McIntyre who jumped on and rode off. He said later
that he thought Kennedy was already dead when he grabbed the horse.
Kennedy and Ned had a running gun battle and Kennedy was hit and
subsequently dropped his gun and turned to surrender. Ned thought
Kennedy was turning to fire and he thus shot him. Kennedy fell to the
ground mortally wounded. Ned knew that they could not move him and
that they could not leave him there at the mercy of ants and other
predators. Knowing that they could not stay there with him longer and
risk capture, Ned shot him again to put him out of his misery. After
turning out his pockets and taking among other things a gold watch,
Ned, as a sign of respect, covered Kennedy with his clock that was
found in the tent.

After McIntyre reached civilisation and alerted authorities, a search
party was sent out to find the bodies. The bodies of Scanlon and
Lonigan were found as they were in the vincinity of the camp, but
Kennedy's was not found till days later as it was some ways off.

Kennedy was buried in Mansfield and the funeral was well attended. He
was 36 years old at the time of his death, leaving behind a wife and 5
children.

Thomas McIntyre said of Michael Kennedy: "His strong personality and
force of character would have placed him in a high position in the
Victorian Police had he not met with this untimely end."

A monument to the three slain officers was erected at Mansfield and
unveiled in April of 1880 after there was a public subscription to
raise the needed funds.

Mrs. Kennedy received a Police pension for the remainder of her life.
She had sought permission to talk to Ned Kelly while he was at the Old
Melbourne Gaol but the Gaol Governor, John Castieau, wisely would not
allow it. She was very keen to get back the watch which was stolen,
and it was many years later, in 1893, when it was finally returned to
her through the help of a former constable turned hotel-keeper,
William Wallace.

Today, Michael Kennedy's great-grandson, also named Michael Kennedy,
is a member of the Victorian Police and the watch is still in the
family as a treasured heirloom.

(Written by Sharon Hollingsworth)

KENNEDY'S WATCH