Paul Aloysius Kenna
| Paul Aloysius Kenna | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 16 August 1862 Everton, Liverpool |
| Died | 30 August 1915 (aged 53) Suvla Bay, Turkey |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | –1915 † |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit |
21st Lancers 3rd (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire) Mounted Brigade |
| Battles/wars |
Mahdist War Second Boer War Third Somaliland Expedition World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order |
| Relations | Montagu Arthur Bertie, 7th Earl of Abingdon (father-in-law), Simon Mangan, Patrick Leonard, Nicolas Tindal-Carill-Worsley |
| Other work | Olympic horserider |
Brigadier General Paul Aloysius Kenna, VC, DSO (Irish: Pól Lughaidh Mac Cionaoith; 16 August 1862 – 30 August 1915) was an English-born British Army officer of Irish descent and recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that could be awarded to British and British Empire forces.
He was the son of James Kenna, of Liverpool, who was descended from a family of minor gentry from County Meath. Kenna was educated at St.Augustine's College in Ramsgate, Stonyhurst College and St. Francis Xavier College in Liverpool - he is honoured in a memorial which can be seen in the main hall of the current college site in Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool and by a plaque and a portrait (see side-bar) at Stonyhurst.
Kenna was 36 years old, and a captain in the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's) during the Sudan Campaign when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
He later served in the Second Boer War in South Africa 1899–1900, was promoted a brevet major on 29 November 1900, and received the substantive rank of captain on 27 January 1902. For his service during the war, he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in the South Africa Honours list published on 26 June 1902. Following the end of the war that month Kenna returned to the United Kingdom in the SS Dunottar Castle, which arrived at Southampton in July 1902. He received the substantive rank of major on his appointment to lead a Mounted infantry flying column in Somaliland in September 1902. In September 1910 he retired with the rank of Colonel from the Regular Army but in April 1912 was appointed to command the Notts and Derby (Yeomanry) Mounted Brigade and on the outbreak of war was appointed Brigadier-General.
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