A HERO OF OMDURMAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 36, 7 September 1899, Page 10

A HERO OF OMDURMAN.

At the annual dinner of the Stonyhurst Association Bishop Brindle related the circumstances under which Captain Kenna, who was the guest of the evening, won the Victoria Cros9. Official documents, said his Lordship, do not deal either in poetry or rhetoric ; they are the baldest narration of facts, and he would therefore ask the meeting to bear with him while he entered into a few details which would, perhaps, make them understand how great reason Stonyhurst and its sons had to be proud of their latest hero. The official account says : 'At the battle of Khartoum, September 2, l»v>8, Captain P. A. Kenna assisted Major Crole Wyndham, of the same regiment, by taking him on his horse behind the saddle (Major Wyndham's horse having been killed in the charge), thus enabling him to reach a place of safety. And after the charge of the 21st Lancers Captain Kenna returned to assist Lieutenant the Hon. de Montmorency, who was endeavouring to recover the body of Second Lieutenant R. G. Grenfell. Now, gentlemen (his Lordship continued), try to realise what that bald statement means ? When the first attack of the Dervish force had been repulsed and they were in headlong flight to Orndurinan, it was the object of the Sirdar to 'keep them on the run,' so as to prevent their gathering for a second attack, and also to drive them beyond the city and into the river. For this purpose the 21st Lancers were sent in pursuit across the open plain. At about two miles from where the British line had been formed, they came suddenly upon a dip in the land called a ' Khor,' to find the hollow filled by a compact force of about 2000 men, armed with Remingtons, long two-handed swords, and a formidable breast-work of steel lancet Only a distance of about 80 yards lay between them and the nearest foe, and so — ' There's but to do or die.' The Colonel gathered his scattered line and launched them headlong. Amid the rattle of leaden hail, amid the thrusting of deadly spears, amid the hacking of the heavy swords, the 21st tore their way. In the midst of that hell of slaughter Captain Kenna saw a brother officer unhorsed, and in imminent danger ; he halts, he lifts him up, and continues his race for life and honour. Safe himself he tarns and sees another of his comrades trying to save Lieutenant Grenfell. Like an arrow he speeds away, and by his help the body, lifeless, alas, is borne out of the field to a place of safety. That, gentlemen, is not told in the official statement ; but that is what it means.