Henry Edward Kenny

Saved six wounded men under relentless enemy fire near Loos.

Henry Edward Kenny was born in Woolwich, London, on 27 July 1888, the son of John and Susan Kenny. Educated at St John's Certified Industrial School in Walthamstow, he enlisted in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in October 1906. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 1911 and worked for the London cigarette manufacturer Abdulla Ltd.

Recalled when the First World War began, Kenny went to France with the 1st Battalion in August 1914. His early campaigning included Mons and the retreat, the Marne, the Aisne and First Ypres. Further fighting followed around La Bassée and Neuve Chapelle before the battalion joined the offensive at Loos.

On 25 September 1915, Kenny was a 27-year-old private fighting near Le Rutoire, east of Vermelles. His repeated rescues that day earned the Victoria Cross. Wounded in the neck, he was evacuated to the Duchess of Westminster's Hospital at Le Touquet and then Lady Astor's Hospital at Taplow, Buckinghamshire. He recovered and returned to his battalion in France before Christmas 1915.

His award was announced in the Gazette supplement dated 30 March 1916. King George V presented the cross at Buckingham Palace on 20 May. Kenny served through the remainder of the war, attained the rank of sergeant and was discharged in March 1919.

Returning to civilian employment, he worked for Spencer Press Ltd in London, a subsidiary of Abdulla. On 11 November 1920 he joined the Victoria Cross honour guard at the burial of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. During the Second World War he served in the Local Defence Volunteers and Home Guard at Highams Park, London.

Kenny remained involved in the community of gallantry-award recipients. He attended the 1946 Victory celebrations, the Victoria Cross centenary review in 1956 and reunions in 1958 and 1960. He died at St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey, in May 1979, aged 90. After cremation at Woking, his ashes were interred at St Mark's Church, Whiteley Village, near Hersham.

Official Victoria Cross citation

No. 8655 Private Henry Kenny, 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

For most conspicuous bravery. Private Kenny went out on six different occasions on one day under a very heavy shell, rifle and machine-gun fire, and each time succeeded in carrying to a place of safety a wounded man who had been lying in the open.

He was himself wounded in the neck whilst handing the last man over the parapet.

Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 28 March 1916, dated 30 March 1916, issue 29527, page 3410.