Edward (Ted) Kenna

Early life

Edward 'Ted' Kenna was born in the woolgrowing Victorian town of Hamilton on 6 July 1919. His parents were Brian, a railway ganger, and Emma. Kenna and his brother would often shoot rabbits to supplement the family income.

Kenna left school when his father became ill. He worked with a plumber, but the war interrupted his apprenticeship.

War service

Kenna joined the Citizens' Military Force in August 1940. Before his posting to New Guinea in October 1944 with the 2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion, Kenna served in Victoria, the Northern Territory and Queensland.

Kenna's brother, John Joseph Kenna was also posted to the 2/4th Battalion.

In May 1945, Kenna served in northern New Guinea, as part of the Aitape-Wewak campaign. This was one of the war's final campaigns. The Australians' objective was to seize the coastal area and drive the surviving Japanese inland, where they would split into smaller groups unable to offer coordinated resistance.

Conditions were challenging and there were many casualties. There were tropical diseases, supply shortages, numerous small-scale skirmishes and difficult jungle terrain. Wide rivers had to be crossed, and in January 1945, 11 Australians from the 19th Brigade drowned in flash flooding.

Kenna was one of 2 Australians awarded a Victoria Cross (VC) in the New Guinea Campaign. The other was New South Wales officer, Bert Chowne, killed in March 1945.

In May 1945, Kenna was involved in fighting around Wewak airfield. Without orders and with Japanese soldiers firing at him, he advanced towards a Japanese machinegun crew.

His citation records how close the bullets came.

Victoria Cross citation 

No. VX102143 Private Edward Kenna 

2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion 

Australian Military Forces 

In the South West Pacific at Wewak on 15th May, 1945, during the attack near the Wirui Mission features, Private Kenna's company had the task of capturing certain enemy positions. The only position from which observation for supporting fire could be obtained was continuously swept by enemy heavy machine-gun fire and it was not possible to bring Artillery or Mortars into action.  

Private Kenna's platoon was ordered forward to deal with the enemy machine-gun post, so that the company operation could proceed. His section moved as close as possible to the bunker in order to harass any enemy seen, so that the remainder of the platoon could attack from the flank. When the attacking sections came into view of the enemy they were immediately engaged at very close range by heavy automatic fire from a position not previously disclosed. Casualties were suffered and the attackers could not move further forward. Private Kenna endeavoured to put his Bren gun into a position where he could engage the bunker, but was unable to do so because of the nature of the ground. On his own initiative and without orders Private Kenna immediately stood up in full view of the enemy less than fifty yards away and engaged the bunker, firing his Bren gun from the hip. The enemy machine gun immediately returned Private Kenna's fire and with such accuracy that bullets actually passed between his arms and his body. Undeterred, he remained completely exposed and continued to fire at the enemy until his magazine was exhausted. Still making a target of himself, Private Kenna discarded his Bren gun and called for a rifle. Despite the intense machine gun fire, he seized the rifle and, with amazing coolness, killed the gunner with his first round. A second automatic opened fire on Private Kenna from a different position and another of the enemy immediately tried to move into position behind the first machine gun, but Private Kenna remained standing and killed him with his next round.  

The result of Private Kenna's magnificent bravery in the face of concentrated fire, was that the bunker was captured without further loss, and the company attack proceeded to a successful conclusion, many enemy being killed and numerous automatic weapons captured.  

There is no doubt that the success of the company attack would have been seriously endangered and many casualties sustained but for Private Kenna's magnificent courage and complete disregard for his own safety. His action was an outstanding example of the highest degree of bravery.

[The London Gazette, 4 September 1945, Supplement 37253, pp 4467-4468.] 

Kenna's actions saved lives and allowed the Australians to advance.

Three weeks later, Kenna was seriously wounded. He was taken to Melbourne's Heidelberg Military Hospital to recover. While there, he met his future wife, Marjorie, a nurse.

AWM 114769

After the war

Kenna married Marjorie Rushbury in 1947. The couple made their home in Hamilton and raised 4 children together. Their children later talked of their parents' enduring wartime love story.

Kenna worked as a gardener for Hamilton City Council. He was also a keen Australian Rules football player.

Edward Kenna died in Geelong at the age of 90, following complications from a fall.

Commemorating Edward Kenna

In 1988, Kenna's hometown of Hamilton organised the painting of a portrait of their local VC hero. Sir William Dargie was an 8-times winner of the Archibald Prize and a former official wartime artist. He was commissioned to paint the portrait for the town's performing arts centre.

In 2013, a sculpture by Peter Corlett was unveiled in Hamilton.

In July 2000, Kenna featured on a VC commemorative postage stamp.

In 2011, his wartime medals were sold for more than AU$1 million.