Edward McKenna: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|For gallant conduct at the engagement near [[Cameron-town]], New Zealand, on the 7th. of September, 1863, after both his Officers, Captain Swift and Lieutenant Butler, had been shot, in charging through the position of an enemy heavily outnumbering him, and drawing off his small force, consisting of two Serjeants, one bugler, and thirty-five men, through a broken and rugged country, with the loss of but one man killed, and another missing. Lieutenant-General Cameron, C.B., Commanding Her Majesty's Forces in that colony, reports that, in Colour-Serjeant MacKenna, the detachment found a Commander whose coolness, intrepidity, and judgment, justified the confidence placed in him by the soldiers brought so suddenly under his command.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22809|startpage=261|date=19 January 1864|accessdate=23 December 2009}}</ref>}} |
{{quote|For gallant conduct at the engagement near [[Cameron-town]], New Zealand, on the 7th. of September, 1863, after both his Officers, Captain Swift and Lieutenant Butler, had been shot, in charging through the position of an enemy heavily outnumbering him, and drawing off his small force, consisting of two Serjeants, one bugler, and thirty-five men, through a broken and rugged country, with the loss of but one man killed, and another missing. Lieutenant-General Cameron, C.B., Commanding Her Majesty's Forces in that colony, reports that, in Colour-Serjeant MacKenna, the detachment found a Commander whose coolness, intrepidity, and judgment, justified the confidence placed in him by the soldiers brought so suddenly under his command.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22809|startpage=261|date=19 January 1864|accessdate=23 December 2009}}</ref>}} |
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For this deed he also |
For this deed he was also commissioned with the rank of [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]]. In October 1865 his regiment was recalled to England, but Edward had grown attached to the colony, he sold his commission and remained. He joined the [[New Zealand Railways Department|New Zealand Railways]] as a clerk and soon rose to be Station Master at [[Kaiapoi]], [[Ashburton, New Zealand|Ashburton]], [[Invercargill]], [[Gore, New Zealand|Gore]], [[Greatford]], [[Halcombe]] and in the early 1880s [[Palmerston North]]. He eventually retired to Palmerston North where he later died. He is buried at Terrace End Cemetery, Palmerston North in Presbyterian Block II, plot 65. His headstone reads: Edward McKenna, V.C. late ensign, 65th Reg, also N.Z.R., died 8 June 1908 aged 79; also Elizabeth Gordon, wife of the above. R.I.P. |
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==The medal== |
==The medal== |
Revision as of 09:17, 28 April 2014
Edward McKenna | |
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File:VCEdwardMcKennaGrave.jpg | |
Born | 15 February 1827 Leeds, West Yorkshire |
Died | 8 June 1908 Palmerston North, New Zealand |
Buried | Terrace End Cemetery, Palmerston North |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Rank | Ensign |
Unit | 65th Regiment of Foot |
Battles/wars | Invasion of Waikato |
Awards | Victoria Cross |
Ensign Edward McKenna VC (15 February 1827 – 8 June 1908) was an English 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.
Details
McKenna was 36 years old, and a colour-sergeant in the 65th Regiment of Foot (later the 1st Bn, York and Lancaster Regiment), British Army during the Invasion of Waikato (one of the campaigns in the New Zealand Wars), when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
For gallant conduct at the engagement near Cameron-town, New Zealand, on the 7th. of September, 1863, after both his Officers, Captain Swift and Lieutenant Butler, had been shot, in charging through the position of an enemy heavily outnumbering him, and drawing off his small force, consisting of two Serjeants, one bugler, and thirty-five men, through a broken and rugged country, with the loss of but one man killed, and another missing. Lieutenant-General Cameron, C.B., Commanding Her Majesty's Forces in that colony, reports that, in Colour-Serjeant MacKenna, the detachment found a Commander whose coolness, intrepidity, and judgment, justified the confidence placed in him by the soldiers brought so suddenly under his command.[1]
For this deed he was also commissioned with the rank of ensign. In October 1865 his regiment was recalled to England, but Edward had grown attached to the colony, he sold his commission and remained. 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 1880s Palmerston North. He eventually retired to Palmerston North where he later died. He is buried at Terrace End Cemetery, Palmerston North in Presbyterian Block II, plot 65. His headstone reads: Edward McKenna, V.C. late ensign, 65th Reg, also N.Z.R., died 8 June 1908 aged 79; also Elizabeth Gordon, wife of the above. R.I.P.
The medal
His Medal is displayed in the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The archives also contain his gun and uniform.
References
- ^ "No. 22809". The London Gazette. 19 January 1864.
- Template:Wayback (brief biography details)
- 1827 births
- 1908 deaths
- York and Lancaster Regiment soldiers
- 65th Regiment of Foot officers
- British recipients of the Victoria Cross
- British military personnel of the New Zealand Wars
- New Zealand Wars recipients of the Victoria Cross
- English emigrants to New Zealand
- People from Leeds
- British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross