Edward McKenna V.C. (1827 - 1908)

Born 15 Feb 1827 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Gordon) McKenna — married 9 Jun 1853 in Wellington, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 8 Jun 1908 at age 81 in Palmerston North, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kevin Sands [send private message]

Edward McKenna V.C. was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Biography

Colour-Sergeant McKenna was born at Leeds, England, on 15 February 1827 of Irish parents. He was 36 years old, and a Colour-Sergeant in the 65th Regiment (later the York and Lancaster Regiment), British Army, during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand, when the action for which he was awarded The Victoria Cross took place.

"On 7 September 1863 near Camerontown, New Zealand, after both his officers had been shot, Colour-Sergeant McKenna, with a small force, heavily outnumbered by the enemy, charged through their position with the loss of one man killed and one missing. The colour-sergeant's coolness and intrepidity amply justified the confidence placed in him by the soldiers brought so suddenly under his command."

Colour-Sergeant McKenna later achieved the rank of Ensign.^[1]

Instead of returning to England in October 1865 with his regiment, Edward sold his commission and remained in New Zealand. He joined the New Zealand Railways as a clerk and soon rose to be Station Master at Kaiapoi, Ashburton, Invercargill, Gore, Greatford, Halcombe and in the early 1880's Palmerston North.

The Railways department announced on May 9th, 1896 that Edward was being transferred as Station Master from Palmerston North to Wanganui.^[2]

Edward married Elizabeth Gordon in 1853.^[3] Edward and Elizabeth had 13 children.^[4] Two sons born before Kenneth Gordon McKenna, are missing from this family.

The following profiles have not been created for the following McKenna's due to lack of evidence connecting them to Edward McKenna V.C:

• Edward John Gordon McKenna who married Mary Jane Hancock in 1887 in N.Z.
• James Alfred McKenna who died 10 Jul 1911.

Edward passed away in 1908.^[5][6]

References

1. ↑ 65th Regiment of Foot (Officers in NZ).
2. ↑ The Railway Department (Staff changes).
3. ↑ Marriage Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7566, 9 June 1903
4. ↑ Excerpt from book.
5. ↑ Deaths, New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6546, 15 June 1908
6. ↑ Local and General Patea Mail, Volume XXIX, 10 June 1908

Sources

• Alexandra Redoubt.
• Edward McKenna (Birkenhead R.S.A.)
• Edward McKenna (Wikipedia).
• York & Lancaster Regiment Soldiers.

Acknowledgements

• Thank you for showing an interest in Edward McKenna V.C.
• Contributions to his profile are most welcome.
• Kevin J. Sands