William Kenealy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William Stephen Kenealy
Born	26 December 1886 Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland
Died	29 June 1915 (aged 28) near Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Ottoman Turkey
Buried	Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1909–1915
Rank	Lance Sergeant
Service number	1809
Unit	Lancashire Fusiliers
Battles/wars	World War I Gallipoli campaign Landing at Cape Helles   †
Awards	Victoria Cross
Other work	Coal miner

Lance Sergeant William Stephen Kenealy VC, (26 December 1886 – 29 June 1915) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Biography

Born in Wexford, his father John was a colour sergeant in the Royal Irish Regiment. When his father retired from the army, the family moved to the district of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire where his father worked as a check-weigher at Bryn Hall Colliery. Kenealy became a coal miner at age 13. Ten years later, he enlisted into the army, signing up for 7 years. He joined the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army as a private in during the First World War.