For the Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, see Edward B. McKenna.
Edward McKennaVC (15 February 1827 – 8 June 1908)[1] was a British Army soldier and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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.[2]
Later career and lifeedit
McKenna's headstone in Terrace End Cemetery, Palmerston North.
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.[3] He is buried at Terrace End Cemetery, Palmerston North in Presbyterian Block II, plot 65.[4]
^"medal, decoration". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
^"revolver, percussion". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
^"badges, regimental". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
April 10, 2024
edward, mckenna, democratic, member, michigan, senate, edward, mckenna, february, 1827, june, 1908, british, army, soldier, recipient, victoria, cross, highest, award, gallantry, face, enemy, that, awarded, british, commonwealth, forces, vcreverse, victoria, c. For the Democratic member of the Michigan Senate see Edward B McKenna Edward McKenna VC 15 February 1827 8 June 1908 1 was a British Army soldier and a recipient of the Victoria Cross the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces Edward McKennaVCReverse of Edward McKenna s Victoria CrossAuckland War Memorial MuseumBorn 1827 02 15 15 February 1827Leeds West Yorkshire EnglandDied8 June 1908 1908 06 08 aged 81 Palmerston North New ZealandBuriedTerrace End Cemetery Palmerston NorthAllegiance United KingdomBranchBritish ArmyRankEnsignUnit65th Regiment of FootBattles warsInvasion of WaikatoAwardsVictoria CrossNew Zealand War Medal Contents 1 Victoria Cross 2 Later career and life 3 The medal 4 ReferencesVictoria Cross editMcKenna was 36 years old and a colour sergeant in the 65th Regiment of Foot later the 1st Bn York and Lancaster Regiment during the Invasion of Waikato 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 2 Later career and life edit nbsp McKenna s headstone in Terrace End Cemetery Palmerston North 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 3 He is buried at Terrace End Cemetery Palmerston North in Presbyterian Block II plot 65 4 The medal editHis Medal is displayed in the Auckland War Memorial Museum 5 The archives also contain his gun 6 and uniform 7 References edit Loading Collections Online Museum of New Zealand te Papa Tongarewa No 22809 The London Gazette 19 January 1864 p 261 McKenna Edward 1827 1908 natlib govt nz Retrieved 6 April 2023 https manawatuheritage pncc govt nz item 3c24bfe6 5bae 48b6 9449 9e0664812843 pdf medal decoration Auckland War Memorial Museum Retrieved 22 November 2015 revolver percussion Auckland War Memorial Museum Retrieved 22 November 2015 badges regimental Auckland War Memorial Museum Retrieved 22 November 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward McKenna amp oldid 1181589886, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
