Lieutenant WILLIAM DAVID KENNY - NORTHWEST FRONTIER 1919-21

liverpool annie · Nov 7, 2009

In Memory of
Lieutenant WILLIAM DAVID KENNY

V C

4th Bn., 39th Garhwal Rifles
who died age 20
on 02 January 1920
Native of Saintfield, Co. Down. (Buried Jandola Cem. 5.).

Remembered with honour

DELHI MEMORIAL (INDIA GATE)

London Gazette 9.9.1920
Lieutenant William David Kenny 4/39th Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army Date of Act of Bravery, 2.1.1920. Action at Kot Kai, Waziristan.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Kot Kai (Waziristan), on the 2 January 1920, when in command of a company holding an advanced covering position, which was repeatedly attacked by the Mahsuds in greatly superior numbers.
For over four hours this officer maintained his position, repulsing three determined attacks, being foremost in the hand-to-hand fighting which took place, and repeatedly engaging the enemy with bomb and bayonet. His gallant leadership undoubtedly saved the situation and kept intact the right flank, on which depended the success of the operation and the safety of the troops in rear.
In subsequent withdrawal, recognising that a diversion was necessary to enable the withdrawal of the company, which impeded by their wounded, with a handful of his men he turned back and counter-attacked the pursuing enemy, and, with the rest of his party, was killed fighting to the last.
This very gallant act of self-sacrifice not only enabled the wounded to be withdrawn but also averted a situation which must have resulted in considerable loss of life.
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News Letter – 11 September, 1920

THE Victoria Cross was awarded this week to the late Lieutenant William David Kenny of the 4/39th Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army reported the News Letter.

Lt Kenny had lost his life on 2nd January, 1920 whilst in action near Kot Kai (Waziristan) where he had commanded a company defending an advanced position when it came under attack from a superior number of 'Mahauds' and the position was overrun.

The King's honour gave further details of Lt Kenny's "gallant act of self-sacrifice" which not only allowed the wounded to be evacuated but also averted an even worse catastrophe being meted out on the company.

It read: "For over four hours this officer maintained his position, repulsing three determined attacks, being foremost in the hand-to-hand fighting which took place, and repeatedly engaged the enemy with bomb and bayonet."

Lt Kenny who was only 21 years old, noted the paper, was the son of Constable J Kenny of the RIC in Donaghadee and he had been born in Saintfield before moving with his parents to the seaside village in 1904.

He had attended the Leslie School where he was educated by Mrs William Crosbie and had secured a scholarship to study for four years at the Educational Institution in Dundalk.

While at Dundalk Lt Kenny won a Mountjoy School scholarship, which allowed him to spend a couple of years at that college. He had passed the Army entrance exams and entered the Indian Army in 1917
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The Tochi Column advanced from Miranshah to Datta Khel, and the Tochi-Wazirs accepted the British terms; but the Mahsuds, summoned to meet near Jandola, refused to attend the 'jirga'. On the 18th December the Derajat Column began its advance from Jandola against the Mahsuds. Deliberately advancing on the single line of the Tank Zam, it came within four miles of Kotkai on the 28th December after very severe fighting. On the following day terms were accepted, and very quickly broken, by the Mahsuds.

By the 18th January, 1920, the Ahnai gorge had been forced and the Sorarogha plateau occupied. The Makin area, far up the Tank Zam, was reached late in February, and Kaniguram, the Mahsud capital, on the 6th March; and by the 7th May resistance had ceased. A permanent camp, to accommodate an infantry brigade, was formed at Ladha, five miles short of Kaniguram. The campaign had been won by Indian infantry, the Royal Air Force, and the protection of the lines of communication by permanent piquets at fairly close intervals; it had cost the British forces more than 600 dead. The Wana-Wazirs, in South Waziristan, were called to account in October, 1920, for hostile acts committed in and since 1919, and the British terms were not accepted. The Wana Column, advancing by the Shahur gorge and Sarwekai, reach Wana in six weeks, by the 22nd December. Permanent garrisons were placed in South Waziristan.

In these operations, and other minor affairs from November 1920 to March 1921 inclusive, the British forces on the frontier lost 376 dead. From April 1921 to the Spring of 1924 spasmodic raids, gradually becoming fewer, were answered by punitive expeditions and controlled by the introduction of a new frontier system. Makin, the capital of the Abdullai Mahsuds, was shelled in June, 1921, and devastated in February, 1923. Fifty-four casualties were sustained by convoys near Janjal in May, 1921, 50 near Jandola in June, and 82 in the Spinchilla Pass in December, 1921; less important losses in March and April, 1922, and in January and March, 1924. Meanwhile truck roads were built; local levies (Scouts and Khassadars) were enlisted, trained and placed at advanced posts; and the regular forces were gradually withdrawn with the exception of a central garrison at Razmak (at the head of the Taoda China valley, above Makin; communicating with the Khaisora and Tochi valleys). On the 31st March, 1924 the Waziristan Force was dispersed
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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7996517

KENNY, W.D. Victoria Cross*

Kenny was commissioned in to the Indian Army as a second lieutenant on 31 August 1918. He was promoted to lieutenant a year later.
He was 20 years old, and a lieutenant in the 4/39th Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army during the Waziristan Campaign, India when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 7 September 1920 (dated 9 September 1920)

Donaghadee War Memorial is located at the junction of Shore Street and Union Street. About 300 yards north of the War Memorial is Shore Street Presbyterian Church which has a war memorial stained glass window.
The memorial, which has been erected in the centre of the promenade, takes the form of an obelisk, 30 feet (9.5m) high constructed of Connemara marble. Inscribed on the obelisk are the words -

“Donaghadee and District War Memorial, ”

and beneath is the inscription: “Erected in memory of the glorious dead,” and the quotation: “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

‘At the base of the monument are two panels, on which are inscribed the names of sixty-one men from the Donaghadee and Millisle districts who fell in the Great War. The memorial cost £1,100, and the expenditure was met by means of a public subscription organised by a committee.’

The memorial was unveiled by the Marchioness of Londonderry and the Rev. Robert Andrews, Shore Street Presbyterian Church, offered the Prayer of Dedication
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liverpool annie · Nov 7, 2009

I have hunted for a picture of our brave soldier ... but I think this is the only one available ... if anybody can find another I'd be grateful !

I'd also like to know what this means on his CWGC ... Buried Jandola Cem. 5

I wonder was he buried then lost ?

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Lieutenant WILLIAM DAVID KENNY - NORTHWEST FRONTIER 1919-21

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Lieutenant WILLIAM DAVID KENNY - NORTHWEST FRONTIER 1919-21

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