REMEMBERING HEROES: EDWARD KENNA VC

Continuing the stories behind the names of the rest stops on the Remembrance Driveway from Sydney to Canberra.

The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award of the honours system, awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy". Since 1991 Australia has awarded its own award, the Victoria Cross for Australia, superseding the British Victoria Cross. The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to honour acts of valour during the Crimean War. Since then, the medal has been awarded 1,358 times to 1,355 individual recipients. Only 15 medals, of which 11 were to members of the British Army and four to members of the Australian Army, have been awarded since the Second World War.

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Edward Kenna VC

Edward Kenna

Location of Rest stop:

Pheasants Nest

NSW Governor Marie Bashir with Robert Kenna, son of the late Victoria Cross recipient Edward Kenna, at Pheasant Nest rest area in 2012 as she unveils a sign detailing Mr Kenna's act of valour.

Kenna VC rest stop

About Edward Kenna:

Edward Kenna, VC (1919 – 2009) was the last living Australian Second World War recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces

Victoria Cross action:

The citation for his VC was gazetted on 6 September 1945, and read:

War Office, 6th September, 1945.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:-

No. VX.102142 Private Edward KENNA, 2/4 Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Military Forces.

In the South West Pacific at Wewak on 15th May, 1945, during the attack on the Wirui Mission features, Private Kenna's company had the task of capturing certain enemy positions. The only position from which observation for supporting fire could be obtained was continuously swept by enemy heavy machine gun fire and it was not possible to bring Artillery or Mortars into action.

Private Kenna's platoon was ordered forward to deal with the enemy machine gun post, so that the company operation could proceed. His section moved as close as possible to the bunker in order to harass any enemy seen, so that the remainder of the platoon could attack from the flank. When the attacking sections came into view of the enemy they were immediately engaged at very close range by heavy automatic fire from a position not previously disclosed. Casualties were suffered and the attackers could not move further forward.

Private Kenna endeavoured to put his Bren gun into a position where he could engage the bunker, but was unable to do so because of the nature of the ground. On his own initiative and without orders Private Kenna immediately stood up in full view of the enemy less than fifty yards away and engaged the bunker, firing his Bren gun from the hip. The enemy machine gun immediately returned Private Kenna's fire and with such accuracy that bullets actually passed between his arms and his body. Undeterred, he remained completely exposed and continued to fire at the enemy until his magazine was exhausted. Still making a target of himself, Private Kenna discarded his Bren gun and called for a rifle. Despite the intense machine gun fire, he seized the rifle and, with amazing coolness, killed the gunner with his first round.

A second automatic opened fire on Private Kenna from a different position and another of the enemy immediately tried to move into position behind the first machine gun, but Private Kenna remained standing and killed him with his next round.

The result of Private Kenna's magnificent bravery in the face of concentrated fire, was that the bunker was captured without further loss, and the company attack proceeded to a successful conclusion, many enemy being killed and numerous automatic weapons captured.

There is no doubt that the success of the company attack would have been seriously endangered and many casualties sustained but for Private Kenna's magnificent courage and complete disregard for his own safety. His action was an outstanding example of the highest degree of bravery.

Bren gun:

Bren gun held by Australian soldier near Tobruk, Libya, Aug 1941

After the VC action

Three weeks later he was shot in the mouth and spent more than a year in hospital before being discharged from the AIF in December 1946.

The following year he married Marjorie Rushberry, a nurse who had cared for him at Heidelberg Military Hospital.

Interviewed about his VC action for the Australians at War Film Archive in 2002, Kenna said:

It's just one of those things that you do, I suppose. It's hard to say. I think anyone would have done the same thing in the same position because, well it's no good laying down there and doing nothing. You had to do something and I don't think the Nips would have brought tea or dinner for me so I had to get up and do something and I honestly think that any soldier would have done the same thing.

After his discharge from hospital, Kenna returned to Hamilton, Victoria. The people of the Hamilton district raised sufficient funds to build Kenna and his wife a house.

The Kennas had four children. 

After the war he worked with the local council and played Australian rules football for the local team. He attended many Victoria Cross reunions in London and led the annual ANZAC Day march in Melbourne. In the 1980s Kenna had his portrait painted by Sir William Dargie and in July 2000 he was featured on a postage stamp as part of an issue commemorating Australia's living Victoria Cross winners.

Before his death in 2009, two days after his 90th birthday, Kenna was the last living Australian Second World War VC recipient.

Kenna's Victoria Cross was on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for a period in 2010. His family later decided to sell his medals, including the VC, at an auction held at Dallas Brooks Hall in July 2011. Kenna's medal group was sold for a record high A$1,002,000 to an unknown buyer.

Rob Kenna, Edward Kenna’s son, said the family decided to sell the medals after it was realised that they would ultimately have to be handed down to a single family member, who would probably sell them in the future and pocket the proceeds. ''This way it is being sold by people who were connected to dad and know the medal's value. The money will be distributed across the family.'' He said this was his father's wish after lending the medals to the Australian War Memorial, to display for the past two years.

In 2013, a bronze statue of Kenna by sculptor Peter Corlett was unveiled in his hometown of Hamilton, Victoria.

Sculpture in Hamilton Victoria.

Inscription:

Son of Hamilton

Private Edward "Ted" Kenna VC

Army VX102142

2 / 4th Infantry Battalion

Awarded the Victoria Cross 15th May 1945

Wewak New Guinea

Sculpture detail

Gallery:

Kenna later in life marching with medals

Also later in life

In 2012 Edward Kenna’s sons visited the battlefield in Wewak where the Victoria Cross was won.

Edward Kenna’s state funeral was held at St Patrick's Cathedral. His family, friends and soldiers from his Battalion gathered for his funeral along with top military officials. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull and Victorian Premier John Brumby also attended the service.