Name
John Charles Xavier McKenna
1873
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/04/1917
44
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Major
North Staffordshire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AVESNES-LE-COMTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
IV. C. 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
DEATH IS BUT THE GATE OF LIFE
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Berkhamsted memorials, Australian War Memorial & Commemorative Roll, Campbell, Australia
Pre War
John Charles Xavier was born in 1873 in Victoria, Australia, the son of John and Augusta McKenna.
He married Elizabeth Marion Birbeck Terry in 1905 and their son John Francies Xavier McKenna was born on 20 December 1906. in Putney.
On 1911 Census he was living with his wife and son John Francis at the home of his mother in law Lucy Terry at 22 Westbourne Square, Hyde Park, London. He gave his occupation as journalist.
His widow later lived in Little Vicarage, Marlborough, Wilts and Annadale, High Street, Berkhamsted, Herts.
Wartime Service
A notification in The London Gazette on 28 August 1914 reported that John had been appointed Lieutenant and also that he was the "late Lieutenant Bechuanaland Rifles".
He enlisted into the North Staffordshire Regiment and served in France from 29 July 1915 as Major.
He died from pneumonia on 20 April 1917 and is buried in Avesnes-le-Comte Communal Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His wife petitioned for divorce in 1915, but it may not have proceeded as he enlisted in the army. She obtained probate of his estate on 14 July 1917 in London with effects of £26 2s 3d and received pay owing of £209 15s 4d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
