Roy Kennedy was born in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis on 24 October 1895. He served in the Royal Navy from 11 July 1913 to 23 October 1935 as an Able Seaman (ST) to Petty Officer (Seaman Torpedoman) including service as a submariner from 24 April 1917 to 7 March 1918 in HMS DOLPHIN, HMS CRESCENT and HMS K12 (20 August 1917 to 7 March 1918) when he returned to General Service until 1935.

He was recalled for further as a Petty Officer (Pensioner) at the time of the Munich Crisis (3 September to 3 October 1938) and, again on 31 August 1939 for WWII Service. He then served in HMS St ANGELO, HMS NILE in Alexandria, HMS DRAKE, and HMS FORTH.

Roy Kennedy is reported to have died in the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow on 30 May 1944, having committed suicide. Roy Kennedy was the husband of Ruby Lilian Kennedy of Sutton Court Road, Chiswick and he is buried in the Chiswick New Cemetery in Hounslow, in Block O Grave 521.