These biographical notes were compiled from Anthony Kennedy's research. Anthony is Sam's second cousin:-

Samuel (Sam) Kennedy, who was born on 19 February 1891 at Temuka (15km north of Timaru in the South Island), was the first-born child and eldest son of Robert and Margaret Hood (nee Hayward) Kennedy. Named for his paternal grandfather, he was baptised on 9 August 1892 in the Temuka Presbyterian Church. His brother Robert was born in 1892 at Temuka, but the family had moved to Pahiatua by 1894 when James was born, followed by Ileen (1896) and John (1898).

The father died after a construction site accident in December 1901, leaving Margaret with five young children, the eldest (Sam) just 10 years old. Robert Kennedy was buried in a family plot at Lincoln Cemetery (Christchurch).

“A man named Robert Kennedy, a resident of Pahiatua, who has been working on the Bulls bridge, was admitted to the Palmerston Hospital on Wednesday evening suffering from hemmorhage of the lungs. He died yesterday morning.” [Woodville Examiner, Volume XIX, Issue 3347, 20 December 1901, Page 2]

Sam attended Pahiatua and Woodville schools, along with his three brothers and one sister. At the age of 14ó (1905) he went out to work. In 1905 his mother married widower Michael Travers. Michael Travers died in 1928 at Woodville but some years prior to that (by 1912) Margaret had moved to Riccarton, Christchurch where she was residing when both Sam and Robert enlisted for WW1.

Sam Kennedy was a fine axeman
With a handicap of 4 seconds, S. Kennedy came second equal in the Single-Handed Sawing Handicap at the Upper Hutt Axemen's Carnival held in late December 1911. In March 1913 he won the Single-handed Sawing event (18 inch) at the Rangataua Annual Carnival and finished second in the Single-handed Sawing (15-inch, one cut).

He was nominated for Single-handed Sawing at the New Zealand Axemen's Association's Carnival to be held on 26th and 28th December 1914 at Eltham. His handicap was scratch. Sam and mate were also entered in the Double-handed SawingChampionship of Australasia, 2 ft logs.

Sam was entered in the Single-handed Sawing Championship of the World, 2 ft logs
On the opening day the "weather was in a happy mood, the sun shining brightly throughout the day. The crowd, too, was in gala mood, and despite war times and counter attractions, South Taranaki - and North Taranaki too, - supported Eltham loyally in the chopping and sawing events. The entries were not as numerous as of yore. This falling was probably due to the fact that the man who goes into the bush felling the giant trees would just be the type of man who has volunteered for the front."
Before too long Samuel Kennedy would be a bushman volunteer, one who would not see home again. For the time, though, he stood out in the competition. - Sam won first place in the Single-handed Sawing Handicap, for which he received £5-

"The scratch man, sawing beautifully, won by a couple of cuts." On the second day, in glorious weather, the Sawing Championships produced some great exhibitions. In the single-handed S. Kennedy clipped 6 2/5 seconds off the world record established the year before, and won another £5. "Kennedy sawed magnificently, and it could be seen early that the previous records were in danger, and so it proved." "As on the first day, Kennedy was in a class by himself in the sawing events."

In the Double-handed Championship of Australia he and his partner finished in second place, winning £2.

An axemen's carnival was held at Rangatua on Easter Monday 1915, and Sam Kennedy was again at his best, winning both the Single-handed Sawing Handicap (12 entries) and the Double-handed Sawing Handicap, starting from scratch with his mate (12 entries). In the second event, Kennedy and Johansen finished in the amazing space of 28 1/5 seconds, establishing a world record. Kennedy was among the leading sawyers entered in the 1915 Boxing Day carnival at Eltham. The Single-Handed World Sawing Championship attracted only two entries, Sam Kennedy proving too good in retaining his title and earning another £5.

Samuel Kennedy enlisted on 13 October 1916; 25 years old. He signed up for the 22nd Reinforcements at Christchurch, there being a big shortage of recruits. He gave his mother's address on enlistment - 126 Clarence Road, Riccarton, Christchurch, though he was working as a bushman at Rotorua.

Reaching Devonport on 28 March, he marched into Sling and joined the Wellington Infantry Battalion before leaving for France in May on 16 June, twelve days after having to pay 5 shillings for damaging Government property in the Field (cutting pair of trousers), Samuel Kennedy was admitted to the Field Ambulance, sick with the measles. From there he was admitted to No 53 Casualty Clearing Station and, on 18 June, to No 7 General Hospital. He was able to rejoin his unit on 30 June 1917. In August he was detached to the School of Instruction for ten days Kennedy was wounded in Action on 4 October 1917 - gunshot wounds to his face and elbow. He was admitted to the No 3 NZ Field Ambulance and transferred to the No 44 Casualty Clearing Station; two days later he was moved to the No 11 General Hospital at Camiers and from there to the Convalescent Depot at Etaples. The hospital report soon after listed his as not a severe case. In December 1917, Kennedy was transferred to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, joining B Company in the Field in early January 1918.

When convalescent he was persuaded by Y.M.C.A. officials to give an exhibition of sawing. While at the front he was a member of a team of champion woodchoppers who gave exhibitions in various places, providing great entertainment to the Allied troops. They also cut down and prepared the Christmas tree for the Y.M.C.A., which was loaded with presents and gave much joy to the troops. Private J. E. (Ned) Shewry, a Taranaki champion "chopper", wrote to his father that he and Sam Kennedy (world's champion sawyer) had given an exhibition of chopping and sawing at the Lowry Y.M.C.A. hut at the base in France on December 22 (1917). There were over 1000 in attendance, including many officers and two generals. The wood was poplar, which was rather soft, and he stated: "If we had our own tools, we would have surprised the English and French spectators."
In March 1918 Sam spent three weeks on leave in the United Kingdom. Just three days after rejoining his unit in the Field, Rifleman Samuel Kennedy, 39058, was killed in action on 6 April 1918 in the Field at the Somme, France. He was 27 years old. [NZWGT record since amended]