The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Ardil/Ardel/Ardle McKenna is proving difficult!

Stirling Civic Memorial has Ardil McKenna and the printed Roll of Honour has: McKenna, Ardil, Pte, Royal Scots, 44 Broad Street

A report of his death appears in the Stirling Observer of 4 December 1917
"Drummer Ardel McKenna, eldest son of Mr John McKenna, miner 44 Broad Street, killed in Palestine on 12 November; 21 years old; enlisted soon after outbreak; joined Black Watch, wounded at Loos in September 1915 then sent to Egypt and Palestine with Royal Scots; football player; miner at Millhall"
It also appears in the Observer of 21 May 1918
"Killed in Palestine, Private Ardle McKenna, 39 Lower Craigs, son of Mr John McKenna, died on 12 November 1917; Royal Scots; aged 21; miner at Millhall Colliery; died attempting to save a wounded comrade and killed by a sniper"
Apart from the different addresses, they seem to be the same chap.
The only Medal index card I can find with Ardel McKenna has: disembarkation theatre 1 (France) 11.5.15 but he is in A&S Highlanders with regimental number 1751. None of the A McKenna's listed fit with his regiment(s)
Two sets of Service records survive: attestation – enlisted Army Service Corps Territorial Force 3rd June 1913, born Parish of St Ninians, age 17 yrs 5 mths, miner, 13 St John Street, Stirling; NOK – John McKenna, 13 St John Street, Stirling (father); 5’ 3½; embodied 5.8.14; discharged at Bedford 16.9.14 – Section 6, para 156 TF Regulations (I understand this means he was considered unfit to be a soldier - and not in the medical sense!)
Attestation – enlisted 3rd Cameron Highlanders at Hamilton, 14 August 1914; born Bannockburn, age 18 years 7 months, NEVER SERVED IN ANY FORCES, Cameron Highlanders Special Reserve; 5’ 3½; NOK father – John, 13 St John Street, Stirling; regimental number 3/5957
Again these seem to be the same chap; parts of Bannockburn were in the parish of St Ninian's and the difference in ages would fit with the gap between enlistments - but why would he enlist twice??
I found a birth which sort of fits but would make him a year younger than on his attestation papers.
Birth – 1st February 1897; Ardel McKenna, Old Bridge, Bannockburn, father – John, mother – Mary MS Gaffney; married Linlithgow 1889

I can't find any mention of him on CWGC, SNWM or SDGW - he clearly didn't enlist under an alias. Is it possible he wasn't killed at all? I tried looking for a death later on in the stats but no joy there either.
(The reference to Royal Scots in the Observer doesn't matter so much - there have been other mistaken regiments in press and the Roll of Honour was published by them too)
Does anyone have any other ideas? Am I missing something crucial?

Sandra

anne park · Last edited by anne park on Tue Apr 28, 2015 6:12 am; edited 1 time in total

It is there but under alias says Father John McKenna. Use regiment and number as names can be wrongly spelt. Numbers too might be slightly different.
Also does he have a will? Check Scotland's People.
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 5:02 am Post subject: CWGC

Gaffney, J Pte 35590 Royal Scots Gaza War Cemetery XXVI B 7
Use what you have date regiment number......
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Thank you so much, Anne!
I had tried looking at every Royal Scots death on 12.11.17 but didn't pick up on J Gaffney - didn't think of his using his mother's maiden name (a common alias, I guess)
I wonder if he was discharged from ASC because of under age, went to Hamilton to enlist in Camerons (still under age) and then went to Edinburgh to enlist in Royal Scots, using the alias this time - desperate to "do his bit"

Thanks again, Anne. The members of this forum never fail!!
Sandra

PS I have more "problems" - watch this space!

anne park · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 8:15 am Post subject: Glad to help

Get the others and do the checks....
Anne
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

apanderson · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 9:00 am Post subject:

Just to confuse things further .....

Another Ardel McKENNA

Denny & Dunipace Roll of Honour
Details: Ardel McKenna, Stoneywood House, Private, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, No. 1751. Joined August 1914

Brother of Signalman Francis McKenna, Royal Navy, No. 5461
Brother of Rifleman James McKenna, 2/16th London Regiment, No. 245710
Brother of Private Thomas P. McKenna, Machine Gun Corps, No. 74044

Medal Index Card: Ardel McKenna, Private, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, No. S/1751

1901 Census, Living at Stoneywood, Denny
Father Patrick McKenna, age 32, Paper Finisher, born c1869, Dunipace
Mother Agnes J. McKenna, age 32, born c1869, Loanhead, Midlothian
ARDEL McKENNA, age 6, Scholar, born c1895, Denny
Brothers Thomas McKenna, age 5, Scholar, born c1896, Denny
Francis McKenna, age 3, born c1898, Denny
James McKenna, age 1, born c1900, Denny

The MIC is the ONLY thing I can find on 'this' Ardel.

Anne

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Yes, Anne, I found that one as well but the father's name discounted him as far as I was concerned (I could have been wrong of course!!)
I've now found James Gaffney/Gaffeny; on SNWM he was also in Royal Highlanders, HLI and Scottish Rifles and on his MIC he was also in A&SH - talk about a paper trail (which I missed!!!!) Is this a record for the number of regiments served in?
His MIC said he deserted but that word has been scored out; his medals also seem to have been returned but I've seen that on other MIC's so don't know how significant it is.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 9:14 am Post subject:

Sandra/Anne - he's on SNWM with a variation in spelling.
Just how many regiments did this guy serve with Confused

Surname GAFFENY
Forename James
Rank Pte
Service number 35590
Decoration
Place of birth Bannockburn
Date of death 12 November 1917
Theatre of death Egypt
Cause of death Killed in action
SNWM roll THE ROYAL SCOTS (LOTHIAN REGIMENT)
Unit name Unknown Unit attached to THE ROYAL SCOTS LOTHIAN REGIMENT
Other detail 7th Bn. formerly 3279 R. Highrs. 24146 H.L.I. 3285 Scot. Rif.

Edit: SNAP! Sandra
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Ken

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Thanks Ken. We must have hit "submit" together!!

I MUST get off this laptop - I have a garden to do!

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 2:19 pm Post subject:

columba · Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Posts: 404

Thanks, Derek. I didn't know that. I've seen quite a few MICs with "medals ret'd" on them and didn't understand.