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{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
]
{{use dmy dates}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
⚫ '''William Stephen Keneally''' ] (sometimes spelt '''Kenealy'''), (26 December 1886-29 June 1915) was an ] recipient of the ], the highest military award given to ] and ] forces.
|name= William Stephen Kenealy
|birth_date=26 December 1886
|death_date=29 June 1915 (aged 28)
|birth_place= ], ], ]
|death_place= near ], ], ]
|placeofburial= ], ]
|image=William Kenealy VC.png
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{UK}}
|serviceyears= 1909–1915
|servicenumber= 1809
|rank= ]
|branch=] ]
|commands=
|unit=]
|battles=]
* ]
** ] {{KIA}}
|awards= ]
|laterwork=Coal miner
}}
⚫ Lance Sergeant '''William Stephen Kenealy''' ], (26 December 1886 – 29 June 1915) was an ] recipient of the ], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to ] and ] forces.


⚫ On 25 April 1915 west of Cape Helles, ], ], he was 28 years old when he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
==Biography== ==Biography==
Born in ], his father John<ref name=cwgc>, Born in ], his father John<ref name=cwgc>,
Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref> was a ] in the ]. When his father retired from the army, the family moved to the district of ], ] where his father worked as a check-weigher at Bryn Hall Colliery. Keneally became a ] at age 13. Ten years later, he enlisted into the army, signing up for 7 years.<ref></ref> He joined the 1st Battalion, ], ] as a ] in during the ]. Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref> was a ] in the ]. When his father retired from the army, the family moved to the district of ], ] where his father worked as a check-weigher at ]. Kenealy became a ] at age 13. Ten years later, he enlisted into the army, signing up for 7 years. He joined the 1st Battalion, ], ] as a ] in during the First World War.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}


===Citation=== ===Citation===
⚫ On 25 April 1915 west of Cape Helles, ], ], Kenealy was 28 years old when he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
⚫ {{quote|''On 25th April, 1915, three companies, and the Headquarters of the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine guns which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Capt. Willis, Serjt. Richards, and Pte. Kenealy have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.|The London Gazette (No. 29273), 24 August 1915<ref name=cwgc/>}}


⚫ {{quote|On 25th April, 1915, three companies, and the Headquarters of the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine guns which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Capt. Willis, Serjt. Richards, and Pte. Kenealy have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29273|page=8395|date=24 August 1915 }}</ref>}}
⚫ ], Gallipoli Peninsula]]

⚫ Private Keneally was one of the six members of the regiment elected by their colleagues in the regiment for the award, and described in the press as 'six VC's before breakfast'.<ref></ref> ], the overall Allied army commander at Gallipoli ordered that the beach be renamed Lancashire Landing because of his conviction that "no finer feat of arms has ever been achieved by the British Soldier - or any other soldier - than the storming of these beaches".<ref></ref>
⚫ ], Gallipoli Peninsula]]
⚫ Kenealy was one of the six members of the regiment elected by their colleagues in the regiment for the award, and described in the press as "six VC's before breakfast".<ref></ref> ], the overall Allied army commander at Gallipoli ordered that the beach be renamed ] because of his conviction that "no finer feat of arms has ever been achieved by the British Soldier – or any other soldier – than the storming of these beaches".<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060728132638/http://www.army.mod.uk/fusiliers/the_regimental_and_traditional_days/gallipoli_day.htm |date=28 July 2006 }}</ref>


The other five members of the regiment who received the award as a result of the landing were ], ], ], ] and ]. The other five members of the regiment who received the award as a result of the landing were ], ], ], ] and ].


Shortly afterwards he was promoted to ] and then ]. He was seriously wounded in the ] on 28 June 1915 and died the next day. Shortly afterwards he was promoted to ] and then ]. He was seriously wounded in the ] on 28 June 1915 and died the next day.<ref name=cwgc/> Kenealy is buried at ] on the ].<ref name=cwgc/>


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>

'''Listed in order of publication year '''
==Further reading==
*] (1981, 1988 and 1997) * '']'' (1981, 1988 and 1997)
*The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
* {{cite journal|first=Brian D. H.|last=Clarke|title=A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men|journal=]|volume=XVI|issue=64|pages=185–287|year=1986}}
*] ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995) * '']'' {{ISBN|1-899243-00-3}} (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
*'']'' (David Harvey, 1999) * '']'' (David Harvey, 1999)
*] (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000) * ''Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross'' (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
*{{cite book|last=Snelling|first=Stephen|title=Gallipoli|series=]|orig-date=1995|year=2012|publisher=]|isbn=978-0752456539}}


{{Royal Regiment of Fusiliers}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Keneally, William}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Keneally, William}}
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Latest revision as of 02:20, 9 December 2023

Recipient of the Victoria Cross

William Stephen Kenealy
Born26 December 1886
Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland
Died29 June 1915 (aged 28)
near Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Ottoman Turkey
BuriedLancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1909–1915
RankLance Sergeant
Service number1809
UnitLancashire Fusiliers
Battles / warsWorld War I
AwardsVictoria Cross
Other workCoal miner

Lance Sergeant William Stephen Kenealy VC, (26 December 1886 – 29 June 1915) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Biography

Born in Wexford, his father John was a colour sergeant in the Royal Irish Regiment. When his father retired from the army, the family moved to the district of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire where his father worked as a check-weigher at Bryn Hall Colliery. Kenealy became a coal miner at age 13. Ten years later, he enlisted into the army, signing up for 7 years. He joined the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army as a private in during the First World War.

Citation

On 25 April 1915 west of Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Ottoman Turkey, Kenealy was 28 years old when he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 25th April, 1915, three companies, and the Headquarters of the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine guns which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Capt. Willis, Serjt. Richards, and Pte. Kenealy have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

William Kenealy's grave at Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula

Kenealy was one of the six members of the regiment elected by their colleagues in the regiment for the award, and described in the press as "six VC's before breakfast". Lieutenant-General Sir Ian Hamilton, the overall Allied army commander at Gallipoli ordered that the beach be renamed Lancashire Landing because of his conviction that "no finer feat of arms has ever been achieved by the British Soldier – or any other soldier – than the storming of these beaches".

The other five members of the regiment who received the award as a result of the landing were Cuthbert Bromley, John Elisha Grimshaw, Alfred Joseph Richards, Frank Edward Stubbs and Richard Raymond Willis.

Shortly afterwards he was promoted to corporal and then lance-sergeant. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Gully Ravine on 28 June 1915 and died the next day. Kenealy is buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

References

  1. ^ Kenealy, William, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  2. "No. 29273". The London Gazette. 24 August 1915. p. 8395.
  3. Lancashire Fusiliers at 1914-1918.net
  4. UK Ministry of Defence website, Gallipoli Day Archived 28 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Predecessors
Victoria Cross
Categories: