Edward Mckenna
Colour-Sergeant, 65th Regiment
- Register No.
- 797 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Colour-Sergeant (register: Colour Sergeant) all Colour-Sergeants →
- Unit
- 65th Regiment (register: 65th Regiment of Foot) all 65th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 September 1863 on this day → all of 1863 →
- Conflict / campaign
- New Zealand Wars
- London Gazette
- 16th January, 1864 on this day → all of 1864 →
- Born
- 15th February 1827 at Leeds, Yorkshire
- Died
- 8th June 1908 at Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
Near Cameron Town, in New Zealand, on 7th September 1863, Colour -Sergeant McKenna took charge of a small force, consisting of, two sergeants, one bugler and 35 men, after both the Officers, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Butler had been shot. Heavily outnumbered, they charged through the enemy position, losing one man killed and another missing. His coolness and dauntless courage more than validated the confidence that his men, who had come under his command so swiftly, placed in him
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
McKENNA, Edward. (reg No. 797).
Colour-Sergeant. 65th Regiment. * London Gazetted on 16th January, 1864.
Born on 15th February 1827 at Leeds, Yorkshire.
Died on 8th June 1908 at Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads:. Near Cameron Town, in New Zealand, on 7th September 1863, Colour -Sergeant McKenna took charge of a small force, consisting of, two sergeants, one bugler and 35 men, after both the Officers, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Butler had been shot. Heavily outnumbered, they charged through the enemy position, losing one man killed and another missing. His coolness and dauntless courage more than validated the confidence that his men, who had come under his command so swiftly, placed in him.
* York and Lancaster Regiment.
Additional information:. Ensign McKenna left the Army after serving for 18 years and 206 days. He enlisted in the 65th Regiment on the 15th January, 1854, at Leeds. His Victoria Cross, Medals and the revolver, given to him by his wounded officer, were presented to the Auckland Museum, by his widow, at his request
Additional information
Ensign McKenna left the Army after serving for 18 years and 206 days. He enlisted in the 65th Regiment on the 15th January, 1854, at Leeds. His Victoria Cross, Medals and the revolver, given to him by his wounded officer, were presented to the Auckland Museum, by his widow, at his request
* York and Lancaster Regiment.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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