William Kenny (Victoria Cross recipient)
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William Kenny VC (24 August 1880, Drogheda, Co Louth, Ireland – 10 January 1936, Hammersmith, W London) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 34 years old, and a Drummer in the 2nd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 23 October 1914 near Ypres, Belgium, Drummer Kenny rescued wounded men on five occasions under very heavy fire. Twice previously he had saved machine-guns by carrying them out of action, and on numerous occasions he conveyed urgent messages under very dangerous circumstances over fire-swept ground.
He later achieved the rank of Drum-Major.
In addition to the Victoria Cross Drum-Major Kenny was also awarded the following medals: Queen's South Africa medal with bars, King's South Africa medal with bars, 1914 Star with bar, British War medal, Allied Victory medal with oak-leaf, Delhi Durbar medal, and the Cross of St George (Russia).
On 20 March 1999 the grave of William Kenny received a new headstone in the Corps of Commissionaires plot at Brookwood Cemetery, arranged by The Gordon Highlanders London Association (Lt Col. M.H. Burge). Kenny was buried in 1936 but unfortunately the original marker was lost and until this stone is placed, Kenny is not otherwise commemorated.
His Victoria Cross and other medals are on displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum (Aberdeen, Scotland).
[edit] References
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Brookwood Cemetery)
- The Brookwood Cemetery Society (Known Holders of the Victoria Cross Commemorated in Brookwood Cemetery)
