File:My Fathers experiences during WW1, James Kenny, item 5.jpg

Burkes Hill Birr Co Offaly Ireland

09/04/12

The following is a short account of my Fathers experiences during WW1.

My father, James Kenny was born in Kilcarbery, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Eire on the 16th of November 1895. At the outbreak of World War One, he was working as a gardner. He joined the British Army in Enniscorthy on the 8th of February 1915, with his friend and neighbour, Mike Murphy. His friend was 16 years of age but said he was 18 years and was allowed to join. They both joined the Royal Irish Regiment, and my Fathers army number was 11047.

They were sent to Clonmel Barracks in Tipperary for training. On the way to Clonmel, they stopped in Waterford. My Father sent a Postcard to his Mother to let her know that Mike Murphy and himself were safe and well. From Clonmel they finished off their training at Beggers Bush Barracks in Dublin. They were sent to France on the 2nd of May 1915. Mike Murphys Mother reported that her son was underage and claimed him back from France. He was sent home but before the war was over he rejoined and was killed fighting in France.

My Granny Kenny was unable to claim my Father back as he was 20 years of age so she bought a crucifix which she had blessed and sent it to him in France. He carried this crucifix on him for the rest of the war and always maintained that it brought him safely home. He passed on the crucifix to me when I joined the Garda Siochana in 1958 and I carried it in my uniform for 30 years. It has now been passed to my eldest son.

My Fathers first experience of the war was lying face down in the mud in Flanders and shells exploding all around him. They knew nothing about trench warfare but it did not take them long to learn. On the 6th of November 1915 his regiment were sent to the Middle East where he spent the rest of the war. He never spoke about what happened in the war. He did speak about spending Christmas of 1917 in Jerusalem, walking in Jesus’ footsteps to Calvary and praying in the Garden of Gethsemeny for all of his family.

He had great respect for the Turkish soldiers and always referred to them as ‘the mighty Turks’. Towards the end of the war he fought alongside Indian regiments. He returned home after the war but could not settle at home. He returned to England and went to India with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment where he spent 4 years as a Military Policeman. The regiment returned to England and were demobbed on 12th May 1922. When he returned home he married my Mother in 1930 and became the Father of 8 sons and 1 daughter. He died on the 30th March 1984. He was 87 years of age.