KENEALY, EDWARD WILLIAM
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Rank:
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Serjeant
3306465
24/09/1944
38
Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment 2nd Bn.
I. A. 5.
A beloved husband and father. True comrade and a gallant soldier We will never forget. Win
Additional Information:
Son of George and Ellen Kenealy; husband of Emma Kenealy, of Camberwell, London.
He was initially buried at Meerveldhoven.
To summerise, 17 Platoon, of “D” Company, captured in less than 24 hours around 212 prisoners, and brought about the destruction of a tank and a 88mm gun and its crew. The number they killed is not known, but it was probably considerable. Corporal James Hamilton was awarded an immediate Military Medal. Lieutenant MacLellen recommended that the Distinguished Conduct Medal be awarded to Sergeant Kenealv, who was, in MacLellen’s words, “the finest soldier in the British Arms!” Unfortunately the Sergeant was killed some two weeks later at the battle for Best, at which Lieutenant MacLellen was seriously wounded and returned to Canada. He believes that the Sergeant, who did not receive his medal, was never acknowledged for his bravery. Lieutenant MacLellen would be told of his own award while occupying a hospital bed in England: the Military Cross!
Initial gravesite at Meerveldhoven.
From the service records of Edward William Kenealy, the following account can be reconstructed.
Edward William Kenealy was born on 15 December 1905 in Bermondsey, London. In civilian life he worked as a biscuit maker, employed in a biscuit making company. He was described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall, with hazel eyes and black hair.
He enlisted in the British Army on 25 March 1925, joining the Highland Light Infantry. During his service, he was stationed in India from 14 September 1926 until 8 November 1932. He was transferred to the Army Reserve on 25 November 1932, but was called back to active service on 1 September 1939. His military conduct was rated as exemplary. He was a thoroughly honest, sober, reliable, and hard-working man who gained knowledge of clerking having been employed as a company clerk. He was also employed in the Regimental Signal Section, demonstrating a good knowledge of signal, telegraphic, and telephonic work.
He married Emma Crammond on 1 September 1935 in Jersey. The couple had two children.
Edward was sent to North-West Europe on 16-6-1944 as part of the Allied campaign following the Normandy landings.
Edward William Kenealy died of wounds on 24 September 1944.
