Kinnis, John McGregor

John McGregor Kinnis

Rank: Private / Sergeant

Regiment: Army Cycling Corps / Tank Corps

Parents: Mr John & Mrs Mary Kinnis

Address: 25 King’s Road, St Leonards

Other Info: ‘Swimming Champions’ reads: Annually the boys of the Hastings Elementary Schools hold a swimming race for possession of the handsome Gabb Challenge Shield presented by Mr Claud Baker Gabb, for many years one of the best patrons of local sport. Yesterday (Wednesday) week was the eleventh occasion on which the trophy had been competed for, and the race took place in the Hastings Swimming Baths, seven boys who had qualified putting in an appearance. The winner was Gordon Kinnis, son of the redoubtable local swimmer Jack Kinnis (whose portrait is given above) of St Leonards Church of England School. At his side is a portrait of his brother, Private J Kinnis, sent to us by Mrs Kinnis, his mother. Private Kinnis was the winner of the Shield in 1909 in record time, 41 seconds. In a letter home he says he always looks forward to getting the good old ‘Observer’ and ‘Pictorial Advertiser’, so we hope his portrait and his brother’s in this issue will be a pleasant surprise for him’.

According to CWGC, John died on 1st August 1918 when a Sergeant in the Tank Corps. He won a Military Medal and Bar. John is remembered at St Pierre Cemetery, grave reference, XIV.B.6.

Additional information from the Lives of the First World War website.

Published: July 1917

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