The AIF Project

Peter McKENNA

Regimental number5777
Place of birthJarrow England
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBoilermaker
Addressc/o T. Harkins, Tighe's Terrace, Tighe's Hill, Newcastle, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation28
Next of kinFather, Joseph McKenna, 22 Railway Street, Hibburn-on-Tyne, England
Enlistment date30 November 1915
Rank on enlistmentSapper
Unit nameDivisional Signal Company 1, Reinforcement 14
AWM Embarkation Roll number22/11/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A54 Runic on 20 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Divisional Signal Company
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


'Valuable services as linesman, showing conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in maintaining communications.' (East of Ypres)
Recommendation date: 15 October 1917

FateReturned to Australia 23 September 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'At REMUS WOOD east of YPRES during the operation of 4th October, 1917 on PASSCHENDAELE-GHELUVELT RIDGE Spr. MCKENNA as linesman displayed gallantry and devotion to duty. At the height of the battle when telephonic communication was temporarily disorganised by shell fire he volunteered and assisted to lay a special line through a very heavy enemy barrage. After this duty had been completed and on the return trip from the forward station he assisted to carry back wounded men. Subsequently on three occasions he went out under very heavy enemy shell fire and repaired breaks on this line. His action contributed largely to the success of forward signal communications.'

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