Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Kenna, a stockbroker, born 1823 in County Meath, Ireland and his wife Julia Kenna (nee Kearney), born 1836 in Ireland. Paul Aloysius, a schoolboy, was born on the 16th August 1862 at Oakfield House, 22, Richmond Terrace, Everton. Liverpool, Lancashire and was baptised on the 30th August 1862 In St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool, Lancashire, his siblings were, James Francis, a schoolboy, born on the 11th November 1855 and baptised on the 21st November 1855 in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool, Anna, a schoolgirl, born on the 2nd March 1857 and baptised on the 6th March 1857 in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool, Margareta Ellena, a schoolgirl, born on the 26th February 1861 and baptised on the 1st March 1861 in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool, Thomas Josephus, born on the 21st January 1865 and baptised on the 2nd February 1865 in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool and Josephus Maria, born on the 1st May 1867 and baptised on the 4th May 1867 in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool, all his siblings were born in Liverpool, Lancashire, also residing with the family was Paul’s paternal Uncle, Patrick Kenna, a land owner, born 1822 and his paternal Aunt, Teresa Kenna, born 1836, both were born in Ireland, in April 1871 the family home was at Oakfield House, 22, Richmond Terrace, Everton, Liverpool. Paul also had another sibling, Patritius Gulielmus, born on the 17th March 1859 in Liverpool and baptised on the 23rd March 1859 in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool. In April 1911 Paul was a British Army Colonel in Half Pay and was residing in the family home at 86, Sloane Street, Chelsea, Middlesex, together with his wife, Angela Mary Kenna, born 1878 in Blackmore Park, Worcestershire and their children, Kathleen Mary Pauline, born 1907 and Cecilia Mary Ethel, born 1910, both children were born in South West London.
Paul was educated at Stonyhurst College and St. Francis Xavier College, Liverpool. He then went on to be educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and received his first commission with the 2nd West India Regiment, serving with them for two years in the West Indies and West Africa. In 1889 he was transferred to the 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers, he served with this regiment in the Egyptian Campaign of 1889, and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Omdurman (London Gazette, 15th November 1898).
On the 2nd September 1898, at the Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, when a Major of the 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers was in danger, as his horse had been shot in the charge, Captain Kenna took the Major up on his own horse, to a place of safety. After the charge Captain Kenna returned to help Lieutenant, The Hon. Raymond Harvey Lodge Joseph De Montmorency V.C., who was trying to recover the body of an officer (Lieutenant R. G. Grenfell) who had been killed.
Kenna received his medal from Queen Victoria at Osborne House, Isle of Wight on the 6th January 1899. Kenna was soon back into action in the Second Boer War of 1899 – 1902. He was firstly Assistant Provost-Marshall on General French’s Staff. He was appointed Brigade Major in 1900, and later, in 1901, was given command of a column. He took part in the relief of Kimberley, in Orange Free State, from February to May 1900, including operations in Paardeburg, Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Karee Siding, Vet River, and Zand River. He later then served in the Transvaal. He was mentioned in despatches twice. He received the Brevet of Major, Queen’s South Africa Medal with six clasps, and King’s Medal with two clasps. He was also awarded the DSO (23rd August 1902).
He was promoted to substantive Major in September 1902, and two months later, he was selected for special service with the Somaliland Relief Force. He commanded the Mounted Troops throughout the operations in Somaliland and took part in the action at Jidballi, receiving mentions in despatches three times.
He was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, and he received the Medal with two clasps. On conclusion of the campaign, he returned to duty with his regiment in England. He was appointed Brigade Major to the 1st Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot in 1905, and held that appointment until given command of the 21st Lancers in September 1906. He was then appointed Aide de Camp to the King, a position he held until 1915.
In 1911 He was appointed to command the 1st Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (Yeomanry) Mounted Brigade. He competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics for Great Britain as a horse rider. He did not finish the Individual eventing (Military) competition, also the British team did not finish the team event. In the individual jumping event he finished 27th. In 1914, he was promoted to Brigadier General. In the spring of 1915, he took the Brigade to Egypt and later to Gallipoli. On the 30th August 1915, he was hit by a Turkish sniper’s bullet whilst inspecting the front line trenches at Chocolate Hill, and died of his wounds in a nearby Field Ambulance Station. He was buried in Lala Baba Cemetery, Suvla Bay, Gallipoli.
On Tuesday September 7th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “GENERAL KENNA, V.C.” – Reported Killed in Action in the Dardanelles. – Brigadier – General Kenna, V.C., North Kilworth Hall, Rugby, has been killed in action in the Dardanelles. News of the death was received by Mrs. Kenna on Thursday night. No details were given. General Kenna had been in Egypt since last April and only left there for the Dardanelles on August 17th. He was a prominent rider at the Olympia Horse Show and the Army and Navy Tournament. News reached Kilworth Hall, Market Harborough, on Sunday of the death at the Dardanelles of Brigadier - General Paul Kenna, V.C., D.S.O. General Kenna who was more familiarly known in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire as Colonel Kenna, was a popular figure in the Fernie and Pytchley Hunt counties.