Military Cross Citation

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  He formed a defensive flank and brought two machine guns into action, thereby forcing a strong enemy raiding party to retire.  He subsequently led a bombing party with great gallantry”. Gazette Page 3937

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

On 1 Aug 1917 the battalion were in trenches near Ecole, Roulers and the Ypres Railway which are east of Ypres as part of the Brigade Reserve. Later in the day the battalion were relieved by the 7th Battalion Leinster Regiment. However, per the contents of a letter received by the family, at some stage during the day Kenneth was killed by a shell explosion in the lines.

In the letter to Rev. Pelton and his wife, Sergt. Frank Hendrey wrote: “It was your son’s unselfishness and thought for others before himself which finally cost him his life.  A wounded artillery observer came up just as the shelling, if possible, became worse than ever.  He was going to drop down, as he was in the open, but your son insisted on changing places with him, thereby giving up what cover he had got.  A few minutes after there came the rushing whistle of a shell on arrival – an ear-splitting crash, and a rain of earth, mud and pieces of brick, from the explosion.  I was somewhat dazed by the shock for the moment, but directly the rain of pieces stopped, I saw that your son had been hit”.