Thomas James Bede Kenny

He silenced a machine gun and opened the way for his platoon

Thomas James Bede Kenny, known as Bede Kenny, was born at Paddington, Sydney, on 29 September 1896. Educated at the Christian Brothers’ College, Waverley, he began training as a chemist’s assistant before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915. He sailed that December, served in Egypt and joined the 2nd Battalion in France in August 1916.

At Hermies on 9 April 1917, a German strongpoint halted his platoon and inflicted heavy casualties. Kenny advanced alone through close-range fire, overcame a soldier who tried to stop him and attacked the position with grenades. He captured the wounded gun crew, killed an officer who resisted and seized the machine gun. His platoon could then occupy the position. The action earned him the Victoria Cross.

Trench foot subsequently sent him to England for treatment. He returned to his battalion in 1918 and was wounded in the Merris sector that June. Promoted to corporal in August, he sailed home with other Australian Victoria Cross recipients and was discharged on 12 December 1918.

Kenny worked for a commercial firm and the Sydney Sunday Times before becoming a travelling representative for Penfolds Wines. On 29 September 1927 he married Kathleen Dorothy Buckley at St Mary’s Cathedral. They had three children; two died from rheumatic fever during the 1940s. He remained active in the returned-servicemen community despite lasting trench-foot problems and hearing loss.

He died at Concord Repatriation Hospital on 15 April 1953 and was buried at Botany Cemetery with military honours. The Australian War Memorial preserves his Victoria Cross, two First World War campaign medals and 1937 Coronation Medal. A memorial ward opened at Randwick in 1957 extended his association with veterans’ welfare.

Victoria Cross citation London Gazette, 8 June 1917:

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when his platoon was held up by an enemy strong point, 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 strong point 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.