John Patrick Kenneally

Charging with his Bren alone, he broke hostile attacks twice

John Patrick Kenneally was born in Birmingham on 15 March 1921. Known in childhood as Leslie Jackson, he attended local schools and worked as an office boy and petrol-station attendant before joining the Territorial Royal Artillery in 1938. Mobilised in 1939, he served in an anti-aircraft unit. After disciplinary trouble and an unsuccessful attempt to transfer to the Irish Guards, he deserted in 1941. He obtained another man's identity papers and enlisted in the Guards under the name John Patrick Kenneally.

He reached North Africa with the 1st Battalion in March 1943. On 28 April at Djebel Bou Aoukaz in Tunisia, he saw an enemy company forming to attack. Running down a slope with his Bren gun firing from the hip, he disrupted the assault and forced the attackers back. On 30 April he repeated the attack, this time with a sergeant accompanying him. Although wounded, he continued firing until the enemy withdrew. His actions protected the battalion's exposed flank and earned the Victoria Cross.

Promoted to sergeant after the fall of Tunis, he declined a commission. He fought in Italy and was wounded at Anzio in February 1944. King George VI presented his VC that May. He later trained reinforcements, served in occupied Germany and joined the Guards parachute battalion for service in Palestine and Transjordan.

Kenneally purchased his discharge in July 1948 and became a garage owner in Worcestershire. He married twice and had six children. His memoir appeared in 1991. He died at Lower Rochford on 26 September 2000 and was buried at Rochford, near Tenbury Wells. His medals are held by the Guards Museum.

Victoria Cross citation (official excerpt)

Single-handed he charged down the bare forward slope straight at the main enemy body firing his Bren gun…

Official citation: https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/1721/John-Patrick-KENNEALLY