Thomas James Bede Kenny VC (1896 - 1953)

Born 29 Sep 1896 in Paddington, New South Wales (Australia)

Husband of Kathleen Dorothy (Buckley) Kenny — married 1927 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 15 Apr 1953 at age 56 in Concord, New South Wales, Australia

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Victoria Cross Recipients

Biography

Bede Kenny VC is Notable.

Bede Kenny VC is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Thomas James Bede Kenny was born on 29th September 1896 in Paddington, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, New South Wales, Australia. Bede, as he was known, was the older surviving son of Austin Kenny, a butcher, from Auckland, New Zealand, and his wife Mary Connolly, of New South Wales. ^[1] The family later moved to Waverley, on Sydney's eastern coast, where he was educated at the Christian Brothers' College.

Following matriculation from high school, Bede began to train as a chemist's assistant at Bondi. After just three months, on 23th August 1915, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force—a fortnight after the major Australian actions at Lone Pine and The Nek. He was posted to the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion. On 20th December he embarked with the 13th reinforcements, 2nd Battalion. He was then involved in further training at Egypt. ^[2]

Victoria Cross

In March 1916 the battalion was deployed to France and, in the second phase of the Battle of Pozières, fought in the battalion bombing (hand grenading) platoon. On 9th April 1917, at Hermies, France, Kenny's platoon was held up by an enemy strong point. Despite heavy enemy fire, he ran alone towards the enemy, killing one man who tried to stop him, and soon after bombing the enemy position. Kenny was successful in wounding and capturing the gun crew and seizing the gun. For his actions he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). ^[3] His citation read:

"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when his platoon was held up by an enemy strongpoint, and severe casualties prevented progress. Private Kenny, under very heavy fire at close range, dashed alone towards the enemy's position, killed one man in advance of the strongpoint who endeavoured to bar his way. He then bombed the position, captured the gun crew, all of whom he had wounded, killed an officer who showed fight, and seized the gun. Private Kenny's gallant action enabled this platoon to occupy the position, which was of great local importance." ^[4]

Bede Kenny VC was wounded in action at France during The Great War.

On 26th June 1918 was wounded during fighting in the Merris sector. Despite describing his injuries as 'nothing to write home about', he was invalided to Australia in August, aboard HMAT Medic, with other Victoria Cross recipients to a hero's welcome in Sydney on 9th October. His health, including partial deafness, remained poor for the remainder of his life. Returning to civilian life, Bede found work as a travelling salesman for a wine company and, for a short period, with the Sunday Times newspaper in Sydney. Bede led the VC awardees in the annual Sydney Anzac Day march for many years.

On 29th September 1927, Bede married Kathleen Buckley, a florist, in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. ^[5]

The couple had three children. The deaths of their eldest daughter in 1943 and only son in 1947, both from rheumatic fever, caused Bede pain from which he did not recover. Bede passed away in the Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales on 15th April 1953 and is buried in Botany Cemetery (now Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park). ^[6] He was survived by his wife and one of their daughters.

In 1957, the Bede Kenny Memorial Ward was opened in Wentworth Private Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, to provide beds for ex-servicemen ineligible for repatriation hospital treatment.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #33425/1896
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 13 Apr 2019
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: ; accessed 13 Apr 2019
4. ↑ London Gazette 8 June 1917 Supplement:30122Page:5705; accessed 13 Apr 2019
5. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #14914/1927
6. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #7884/1953

See also

• Higgins, Matthew. 'Kenny, Thomas James Bede (1896–1953)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1983; accessed online 13 Apr 2019.
• Wikipedia profile: Bede Kenny; accessed 13 Apr 2019.