William Edward McKenna

William Edward McKenna

Personal Information
Date of Birth	15 Jul 1890
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	1980
Place of Death	Wellington region of WA
Age at Enlistment	25 years, 7 months
Description	5'7¼ (1.71m) tall ; 138 lbs 62.596 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Timekeeper
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Edward McKenna
Military Information
Reg Number	5049
Date of Enlistment	20 Mar 1916
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 13th reinforcement / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	18 Jul 1916 ‒ 9 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A48 Seang Bee
Date of Return	1 Feb 1918 ‒ 18 Mar 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Balmoral Castle
Fate	Wounded in Action 7 Feb 1917 Wounded in Action 20 Sep 1917 Menin Road Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

In 1904 was attending the Jarrahdale No 6 School (evening)

War Service

Soon after entering Blackboy Hill camp, Bill was allocated to the 13th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and travelled to England with them aboard HMAT A40 Ceramic. However, before arriving, on 17 Aug 1916 he was placed in the ship's hospital with Venereal Disease. On arrival in England Bill was sent to the 7th Training Battalion, but was immediately sent on to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Codford until he was recovered ( 11 Sep - 27 Oct 1916) a total of 72 days ineffective service before returning to complete his training On 21 Dec 1916 he proceeded overseas to France through Folkestone aboard HMT Princesse Clementine.

Arriving in France he was placed in segregation from 6 until 20 Jan 1917, reason not disclosed. In France he was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 23 Jan 1917 at Buire where they were in billets training for further front line service and on 7 Feb 1917 Bill was wounded in action, and as the war diary places the battalion in reserve at that time we might assume that the injury was caused by artillery bombardment. Treated by the 45th Casualty Clearing Station and then transported by Ambulance Train to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen. Bill's wounds were classified as a severe Gun Shot Wound to his left arm, and on 11 Feb 1917 he was evacuated from Le Havre to England aboard HMHS Grantully Castle, where on the following day he was admitted to the Reading War Hospital. As part of his recovery, he was granted furlough from 26 Mar to 10 Apr 1917 before reporting to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs.

On 22 May 1917 Bill again proceeded overseas to France, this time through Southampton, before rejoining the 28th Battalion on 12 Jun 1917 at Senlis near Bapaume. On 9 Jul he was appointed Lance Corporal, before being wounded a second time, on 20 Sep 1917 during the battle known as Menin Road. Again it would seem that enemy artillery were responsible as he received a shell wound to his jaw. Treated by the 6th Field Ambulance and then passed to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station before being admitted to the 47th General Hospital at Le Tréport. Evacuated to England on 27 Sep 1917 aboard HMHS St Denis, he was admitted to the Queens Hospital in Sidcup, Kent with what was classified as a severe Gun Shot Wound to his Jaw. On 15 Oct 1917 he had recovered enough to transfer to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield where he was granted furlough from 22 Oct till 5 Nov 1917, after which he reported to the No. 2 Command Depot in Weymouth for return to Australia. In Australia, on 6 May 1918 he was charged with being AWOL from 12:00 midnight on 4 May till 10:30pm on 5 May 1918 a period of 22.5 hours. Bill forfeited a day's pay. He was discharged by the 5th Military District on 26 Jun 1918, and the following day Bill was granted a pension of 20/- per fortnight.

Post War

In 1920 married Ella Rose Ringwood Sinclair. Son John Douglas aka Douglas was born 2 Jun 1925 in Jarrahdale.

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 Tuart street Bunbury, clerk; 1943 - 1949 at 8 Carey street, Bunbury, clerk In 1968 was living at 122 Blair street, Bunbury, WA.

On 25 Dec 1935 45 year old William and 38 year old Ella arrived back in Fremantle aboard the State Ship SS Kangaroo from Singapore.

Served during WW2 as W30671 Lieutenant in the 19th Garrison Battalion from 19 Oct 1940 till 27 Aug 1943.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial