Diggers mourn WWII's last VC hero Edward Kenna

WHEN the news broke yesterday that Edward Kenna, Australia's last surviving Victoria Cross winner from World War II had died, old Diggers in suburbs and small country towns around the nation wept for a mate whom they knew only as "Ned".

He was a humble and self-effacing bloke who always insisted that too much fuss was made of his heroic, some would argue crazy, act of courage in the jungles of New Guinea in the closing months of the war.

As Kevin Rudd led the tributes to Mr Kenna, who died on Wednesday aged 90, other more personal memories were being shared between those who served with him on the front line.

Bill Panter, a lifelong friend of Mr Kenna, was, like Ned, a private in what was known by their colleagues in other sections of the defence forces as the "PBI" - poor bloody infantry.

He spent most of yesterday taking calls from mates who had telephoned to console him and shed a tear. He also tried to find the words to include in a death notice for a man who believed there was no higher honour than being thought of as a good bloke, but whose war deeds made that epitaph impossible to write.

Mr Panter witnessed the extraordinary events that took place on May 15, 1945 - events later described in his friend's VC citation as "magnificent bravery". On that day the young private from Hamilton in rural Victoria single-handedly decided to embark on what should have been a suicidal mission to take out a Japanese machinegun crew.

Citation

In the South West Pacific at Wewak on 15 May 1945 during the attack near the Wirui Mission features, Private Kenna's Company had the task of capturing certain enemy positions. The only position from which observation for supporting fire could be obtained was continuously swept by enemy heavy machine-gun fire and it was not possible to bring Artillery or Mortars into action. Private Kenna's Platoon was ordered forward to deal with the enemy machine-gun post, so that the Company operation could proceed. When the attacking sections came into view of the enemy they were immediately engaged at very close range by heavy automatic fire from a position not previously disclosed. Casualties were suffered and the attackers could not move further forward. Private Kenna endeavoured to put his Bren gun into a position where he could engage the bunker but was unable to do so because of the nature of the ground. On his own initiative and without orders private Kenna stood up in full view of the enemy less than 50 yards away and engaged the bunker, firing his Bren gun from the hip. He remained completely exposed and continued to fire at the enemy until his magazine was exhausted. Still making a target for himself, Private Kenna discarded his Bren gun and called for a rifle. Despite the intense machine gun fire, he seized the rifle and with amazing coolness killed the gunner with his first round. A second automatic opened fire on Private Kenna from a different position and another of the enemy immediately tried to move into position behind the first machine gun, but Private Kenna remained standing and killed him with his next round.

The result of Kenna's magnificent bravery in the face of concentrated fire was that the bunker was captured without further loss. The company attack proceeded to a successful conclusion. There is no doubt that the success of the company attack would have been seriously endangered and many casualties sustained, but for Private Kenna's magnificent courage and complete disregard for his own safety. His action was an outstanding example of the highest degree of bravery.

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