The feature page
of
Private Joseph Bryant McKenna,

39042, 2nd/8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers



An Aussie in the Lancashire Fusiliers in WW1

Private Joseph Bryant McKenna, 39042, 2nd/8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army,
who died of wounds on the 10 August 1917, age 21.
He was the Son of Richard and Emily Burge McKenna, of Grosvenor St., Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
He is commemorated in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, Seine Maritime, France.

Joseph Bryant McKenna was born in Flemington Victoria Australia in 1896 he was the youngest son of Richard and Emily McKenna.
As a boy he attended Xavier College in Kew.
In 1916 he travelled with his father to India Richard McKenna was a horse exporter for the Australian government he supplied cavalry horse to the troops during WW1. Joseph wanted to join the Australian Army with his older brother Alfred but his parents refused to let him join.
While Joseph was in India, he managed to without the knowledge of his father join the British army on enlistment he was told that if he signed up to the British army, he could transfer to the Australian army but as he found out later this information was incorrect.
The remaining of the story you know he was deployed to the Lancashirefusiliers an was killed in France on the 10th August 1917 from what the family knows he was with his horse they had led the horses to a watering hole to drink Joseph was shot by a German sniper in the face he died a few days later at Le Treport field hospital he is buried at Mt Huon cemetery Le Treport France
Before his death his mother and father tried desperately to have him returned to Australia but unfortunately, he died before they could arrange this.
This a least explains why an Australian was in the Lancashire Fusiliers.


The pictures were taken in 1916 in france it was sent to my Grandmother Mabel Falkland who was Josdph's older sister it has a lovely message on the back to her I did not scan the back as it was a personal message to her.

The article is from Xavier college in Kew Victoria Australia it was the colledge that Joseph attended it was a tribute to Joseph Bryant McKenna they have a lovely archive honoring the WW1 soliders.

I have aslo attached the telegram that my GG grandmother Emily McKenna received in relation to Joseph being wounded could not image how she must have felt.

metery, Le Treport, Seine Maritime, France.


Joseph B
Surname:
McKenna
Regiments served with:
Unit Rank Service Number
Army Service Corps Private RTS-8187
Lancashire Fusiliers Private 39042
Archive Reference:
WO 372/13/22112
(Can be found at The National Archives in Kew, and contains First World War, War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index)
Army Service Corps during World War 1
More information about Army Service Corps
Collection:
Nominal index of all service personnel serving in a theatre of war 1914-1919

Campaign Medals:

Victory Medal
With the information in Joseph B McKenna's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible.
Purchase This Medal
British War Medal


With the information in Joseph B McKenna's record, it is likely that they were entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918

The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of this period.
Purchase This Medal
* Medal entitlement listed above is worked out using the same methodology the MOD used for issuing them
The record you are viewing contains all the information available from the original source, either fully transcribed for you or as an index and attached image.
Other collections may hold more or different data for this person.

First Name:
Joseph Bryant
Initials:
J B
Surname:
McKenna
DOB:
Circa 1896
Age:
21
Nationality:
British
Date of Death:
10/08/1917
Information:
Parents: Richard and Emily Burge McKenna, of Grosvenor St., Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia.
Rank:
Private
Service Number:
39042
Service:
British Army
Regiment:
Lancashire Fusiliers
Battalion:
2nd/8th Battalion (Why is this important?)
Commemorated:
Britain
Lancashire Fusiliers during World War 1

Reference: WO 372/13/22112
Description: Medal card of McKenna, Joseph B
Corps Regiment No Rank
Army Service Corps RTS-8187 Private
Lancashire Fusiliers 39042 Private

Thanks to Kathy Rawsthorne Joseph's great niece her grandmother was his older sister