Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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14 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW to you for you to think that his death, however sudden, could be unprepared. On Sunday and 0927; the 16th and 17th, he received Holy Communion before going back to the trenches. ! buried him to-day, January 20th, in the little cemetery of the 24th Battalion. His body was untouched, save for the bullet-wound which caused his death. The Colonel and all the officers have told me how sorry they are to lose him. Corporal McKenna was held in the greatest esteem and affection by all in his Company and Battalion. He was one of my most fervent and devout boys ў LETTER FROM CAPTAIN GERALD Е. FURLONG : January 20th, 1916. I am sorry that I have to notify you of the death of Adrian. Не was killed in action yesterday morning, the 19th, about seven o'clock, when crossing overland from one of the trenches. You will be glad to know that he was at the Church Parade on Sunday and received Communion before going back to the trenches on Monday night. He was buried this A.M., in the Laiterie Cemetery, by Father Doyon, and I’ve sent all his belongings to the D.A.A.G. at the base, excepting the enclosed letters. So if you wish them sent to you, write at once to D.A.A.G., Canadian Division, G.H.Q., 3rd Echelon, France. If there is anything further I can do for you in this case, let me know. My deepest sympathy. LETTER FROM A LIEUTENANT OF THE 24th: Trenches, January 20th, 1916. It is with a great deal of sorrow that I am writing you about your brother's death. You don’t know how we all felt it, not only the Platoon in which he was, but also the officers and men of the whole Company. have been with the 24th only since the New Year, and your brother returned from hospital only about two days before we came into the trenches. From the little I saw of him, he struck me as a fine soldier, and 1 had spoken to Major Ross about making him a Sergeant, as I was in need of one. At the time, he was in charge of an isolated post about thirty yards out from our main trench, with four men. I had visited it during the night and everything was all right. The only way we have of communicating with it is by overland, and this can be carried out only during the night; and therefore the post is relieved every twenty-four hours. On the morning of the 19th, just after stand-to, | was in another part of the trench, and looking over the parados | saw him out in the open, facing his own post. I hurried up to where my Sergeant (Redmond) was, and asked him what Corporal McKenna was doing out there, and he said he had come over after something and was going back with it. We watched him as long as we could, and then I went to my dug-cut which I had no sooner entered than Sergeant Red- mond came to me and said Corporal McKenna had been shot. The boys of the Garrison showed their love for him by wanting, everyone, to go out and rescue him. I allowed six, counting my stretcher-bearers, to go out, and they bandaged up his wounds and brought him in, exposing themselves at the time. Не was hit about 7.30 A.M. and died before we t get him to the dressing-station, about 8.30 A.M., as it took so long to get him in through the mud. He is buried in the Battalion plot behind our front, and if you come over, you will be near enough to visit his grave. If there is anything else you would like to know, don’t mind asking me. - LETTER FROM CAPTAIN GEORGE VANIER OF THE 22ND: Somewhere in Flanders, January 21st, 1916. By this time you know the terrible news of Adrian's death in action. What can I say that would not be empty? You know how І feel...... He was one of those in the C.E.F. in ` whom I took the greatest interest. Unfortunately I did not run across him as often as I would have wished. Without being able to give you details, I can say that our battalions did not occupy exactly the same lines, and although two men may be billeted and may fight five hundred yards from one another, their paths may never cross. When Adrian was wounded, by a very singular coincidence I saw him in the ambulance. Our battalion that day happened to be resting in billets not very far from the firing line, and the 24th was in the front trenches. I was walking along the road when I heard an ambulance behind me. I stepped to one side, without hardly looking up. The ambulance passed me, had gone twenty feet when I heard my name called out. I looked up to see Adrian sitting in the rear end of the ambulance with one arm bound up and a cheery smile on his face. With the free arm he pointed towards one of his shoulders, and I knew then that he had been wounded somewhere near the shoulder and that the wound could not be serious. | was unable to speak to him because the motor ambulance was speeding away at a fast clip. Then

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LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW 13 ROLL OF HONOUR CORPORAL ADRIAN McKENNA, 24th BATTALION, Killed in action on January 19th, 1916. . Adrian McKenna came to Loyola in 1905. Не entered the class of Latin Rudiments and was soon a favourite with his class-mates and the other boys in the College. He was of a cheery disposition, ready to take his share in any game or amusements, and of unbounded generosity. He remained with us for four years, and after some time joined the Dominion Textile Company. бооп after the war broke out, he resigned and volunteered for active service in the 24th Battalion. Two of the letters which he wrote to friends in Montreal, and which we are publishing among the ‘Letters from the Front,’ will give some details of his life in the trenches. He had just rejoined his regiment, after being confined to the hospital for some time as a result of a bullet wound, when he met his death. Those who have known Adrian will not be surprised to learn that he was shot while in charge of a dangerous post about thirty yards out from the main trench. In fact, his Major writes that “he was always willing to take a dangerous post, and his courage and coolness at critical times were always an inspiration to his men.”’ The tributes to his engaging qualities and soldierly efficiency, received by his relatives from the officers and men of his regiment, are too numerous to mention. We are giving some extracts from the letters announcing the cir- cumstances of his death. A special interest for us attaches to Adrian McKenna, as he is the first Loyola boy who has died on the field of honour. The many friends whom he made during the time he spent at the College unite in offering their deepest sympathy to his mother and relatives. LETTER FROM HIS MAJOR Belgium, January 22nd, 1916. It is with a great deal of sorrow and feeling of sympathy for you that I have to tell you of the death of your son, Corporal A. H. McKenna. He had been Corporal with me in my Company ever since I joined the Battalion, and he had at all times been steady and reliable. His work over here was especially good. He was always willing to take а dangerous post, and his courage and coolness at critical times were always an inspiration to his men. It was on the 19th, at half-past seven in the morning, while he was crossing a dangerous and exposed piece of ground, that he was shot through the body by a sniper. All that was possible was done for him, but he did not regain consciousness, and he died an hour and a half later. He was buried the next day in the Battalion plot. I feel that I have lost one of my most valuable men, and I know how much sorrow it will bring to you; so if there is anything I can possibly do for you, I would be very glad to do it, if you woüld just let me know. LETTER FROM A MILITARY CHAPLAIN: . (Translated from the French) Belgium, at the Front, January 20th, 1916. Long before my letter reaches you, you will have heard of your great bereavement...... I must give you an accurate account of the death of Corporal A. McKenna, who fell gloriously yesterday on the field of honour. Не was in the advanced trenches. Death came quickly; but the piety, I would almost say the saintliness, of our dear Adrian is too well known

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LIEUT. JOHN HOWE, 14th Battalion, O. L. 1900. Killed in action on April 25th, 1916.