William Keneally
Private (later Sergeant), 1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 674 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private (later Sergeant) (register: Private) all Privates →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers all Lancashire Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 April 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 24th August 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Born
- 26th December 1886 at Wexford, Ireland
- Died
- 29th June 1915 at Gallipoli
- Memorial / grave
- Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli
Digest of citation
On the 25th April 1915 west of Cape Helles, Gallipoli, three companies and the Headquarters of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, when landing on West Beach, were met by very deadly fire from hidden machine-guns which caused a large number of casualties. The survivors however, rushed up and cut the wire entanglements not withstanding the terrific fire from the enemy and after overcoming supreme difficulties the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. (Private Keneally was one of the six members of the Regiment elected for the award. The other five* were BROMLEY. C; GRIMSHAW J.E.; RICHARDS A.J; STUBBS, F.E; and WILLIS, R.R). * SEE INDIVIDUAL CITATIONS
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
KENEALLY, William, (Reg. No.674)
Private, (later Sergeant) 1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 24th August 1915.
Born on: 26th December 1886 at Wexford, Ireland.
Died on: 29th June 1915 at Gallipoli Memorial at: Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 25th April 1915 west of Cape Helles, Gallipoli, three companies and the Headquarters of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, when landing on West Beach, were met by very deadly fire from hidden machine-guns which caused a large number of casualties. The survivors however, rushed up and cut the wire entanglements not withstanding the terrific fire from the enemy and after overcoming supreme difficulties the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. (Private Keneally was one of the six members of the Regiment elected for the award. The other five* were BROMLEY. C; GRIMSHAW J.E.; RICHARDS A.J; STUBBS, F.E; and WILLIS, R.R). * SEE INDIVIDUAL CITATIONS.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli
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