Brigadier General Paul Aloysius Kenna VC DSO

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Aloysius_Kenna

Brigadier General Paul Aloysius Kenna VC DSO (16 August 1862 – 30 August 1915) was an English born British Army officer of Irish descent and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that could be awarded to British and British Empire forces.

Background

He was the son of Thomas Kenna, a wealthy stockbroker of Liverpool who was descended from a family of minor gentry from County Meath. Kenna was educated at Stonyhurst College and St. Francis Xavier College in Liverpool - he is honoured in a memorial which can be seen in the main hall of the current college site in Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool.

Military service and Victoria Cross

Kenna was 36 years old, and a captain in the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's), British Army during the Sudan Campaign when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 2 September 1898, at the Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, when a major of the 21st Lancers was in danger, as his horse had been shot in the charge, Captain Kenna took the major up on his own horse, to a place of safety. After the charge Captain Kenna returned to help Lieutenant De Montmorency who was trying to recover the body of an officer who had been killed.

He later served in the Second Boer War in South Africa 1899-1900, and was promoted a Brevet Major in November 1900.

Olympics

He competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics for Great Britain as a horse rider. He did not finish the Individual eventing (Military) competition, also the British team did not finish the team event. In the individual jumping event he finished 27th.

World War I

He was killed in action at Suvla, Turkey during the Battle of Gallipoli on 30 August 1915, aged 53 and is buried in Lala Baba Cemetery.

His VC is on display in The Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum in Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire.

Family

Kenna married Lady Cecil Bertie, daughter of the 7th Earl of Abingdon. He married, secondly, Angela Mary, daughter of Herbert Hibbert. They had one daughter, Kathleen (d. 1998)

His first cousin, Margaret (née) Larkin (grand-daughter of his grandfather Patrick Kenna) married Simon Mangan, HM Lieutenant for Co. Meath. Their grandson was Group Captain Nicolas Tindal-Carill-Worsley.

KENNA, PAUL ALOYSIUS

• Rank: Brigadier General
• Date of Death: 30/08/1915
• Age: 53
• Regiment/Service: General Staff Cdg. 3rd Mounted Brigade and A.D.C. 21st (Empress of India's) Lancers
• Awards: V C, D S O
• Grave Reference: II. A. 1.
• Cemetery: LALA BABA CEMETERY
• Additional Information: Husband of Angela Mary Kenna, of Trowle House, Trowbridge, Wilts. Served in the South African War.

Citation

An extract from the "London Gazette." dated 15th Nov., 1898, records the following:- "At the Battle of Khartoum, on 2nd September 1898, Captain P.A. Kenna assisted Major Crole Wyndham, of the same regiment, by taking him on his horse, behind the saddle (Major Wyndham's horse having been killed in the charge), thus enabling him to reach a place of safety; and after the charge of the 21st Lancers, Captain Kenna returned to assist Lieutenant de Montmorency, who was endeavouring to recover the body of second Lieutenant R.G. Grenfell."

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Brigadier General Paul Aloysius Kenna, VC, DSO (Irish: Pól Lughaidh Mac Cionaoith; 16 August 1862 – 30 August 1915) was an English-born British Army officer of Irish descent and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that could be awarded to British and British Empire forces.

KENNA, PAUL ALOYSIUS

Rank: Brigadier General
Date of Death: 30/08/1915
Age: 53
Regiment/Service: General Staff Cdg. 3rd Mounted Brigade and A.D.C. 21st (Empress of India's) Lancers
Awards: V C, D S O Grave Reference: II. A. 1.
Cemetery: LALA BABA CEMETERY
Additional Information: Husband of Angela Mary Kenna, of Trowle House, Trowbridge, Wilts. Served in the South African War.

Citation

An extract from the "London Gazette." dated 15th Nov., 1898, records the following:- "At the Battle of Khartoum, on 2nd September 1898, Captain P.A. Kenna assisted Major Crole Wyndham, of the same regiment, by taking him on his horse, behind the saddle (Major Wyndham's horse having been killed in the charge), thus enabling him to reach a place of safety; and after the charge of the 21st Lancers, Captain Kenna returned to assist Lieutenant de Montmorency, who was endeavouring to recover the body of second Lieutenant R.G. Grenfell."

CWGC

LOTFWW

Leicestershire and Rutland, Soldiers Died 1914-1920

findmypast Transcription

• First name(s) Paul Aloysius
• Last name Kenna
• Age 53
• Birth year -
• Birth place 16/9/1862 At Oakfield House, 22, Richmond Terrace, Everton, Liverpool, Lancs.
• Service number -
• Rank Brigadier General
• Unit or regiment Lancers
• Battalion 21
• Location -
• Country England
• Decorations VICTORIA CROSS, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER
• Death year 1915
• Death date 30-Aug-1915
• Died 1915-08-30
• Cause of death DOW
• Burial commemeration Lala Baba Cem., Suvla, Gallipoli, Turkey
• Memorial one St. Andrew'S Church, North Kilworth, Leics
• Memorial two Stoneyhurst College, Lancs
• Notes PD. He died from wounds received from a snipers bullet at Chocolate Hill, Gallipoli. He died in a Field Ambulance Station nearby. The entry relating to the award of the Victoria Cross taken from the London Gazette of the 15th November 1898 records. On the 2nd September 1898 (Captain) Kenna. When a fellow officer's horse had been shot in the charge at Omdurman, he took the man up onto his own horse and rode to safety. He then assisted Captain, The Hon. Raymond Harvey Lodge Joseph De Montmorency VC in recovering the body of an officer who had died from his wounds. He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the entry from the London Gazette of the 26th June 1902 records. 'Paul Aloysius Kenna, VC, Major, 27th Lancers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.'
• Record set Leicestershire and Rutland, Soldiers Died 1914-1920
• Category Military, armed forces & conflict
• Subcategory First World War