Victorians at War - Oral History Project

Personal Stories
Edward "Ted" Kenna (Army - WWII)
Ted has lived in Hamilton, Victoria, all his life. In his youth he worked as a grocer's boy before starting a plumbing apprenticeship. During his apprenticeship Ted was called up by the Australian government to serve in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and went into the army as a rifleman. He trained at Geelong Racecourse and joined the 2/4 Battalion, Second AIF. Ted was sent to Darwin and stayed there on manoeuvers for a year defending the city from the Japanese. Then he traveled to Queensland to train at the jungle school in Canungra. In May 1945 Ted was shipped to Aitapi in New Guinea then marched to Wewak where he was involved in a battle to capture the town. Soon after he was part of a contingent ordered to take over the Wirui Mission area from the Japanese and fought with such bravery he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Within a matter of weeks he was severely wounded by a bullet that hit him in the jaw passing through his neck under his collarbone and exiting though his armpit. Ted was transported home and sent to the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital to recover. The war ended during his time at the hospital and he was discharged.	Listen to interview (approx. 1 hour) Read Transcript