Private John McKenny: A Bristolian ‘man of colour’ in the Gloucestershire Regiment during the First World War

By John D Ellis

There is a quote attributed to both Winston Churchill and George Orwell, that “we sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.”

John McKenny, a Bristolian ‘man of colour’ was one such man. However, like many men of his generation, he served his country when needed. He circumvented the infamous ‘colour bar’ (aided by the Gloucestershire Regiment), enlisting in 1914 prior to the commencement of hostilities and served until the end of the war. His life generated many records, but it was only when he fell foul of the law (civilian or military) that it appears to have been deemed relevant to mention his ethnicity. His life before, during and after the First World War, is explored in this article.

John Isaac Fredererick McKenny (hereafter John McKenny) was born in Bristol in August 1898. He was the son of John and Emma McKenny. The former was a Ship’s Cook Steward and a British Subject born in Nassau (New Providence, Bahamas) c.1851, and the latter was born in Bristol (1874). By the 1890s, Bristol had been home to a Black population for centuries, and whilst John McKenny (Senior) was almost certainly Black (i.e. of African origin), it is not known if Emma McKenny was.

In 1901 the family were residing at 1 Graig Street, Pontypridd, Glamorganshire.^[1]1901 England & Wales Census. 1 Graig Street, Pontypridd, Glamorganshire. RG13/5011/48/231. findmypast.co.uk John and Emma McKenny’s household was comprised of: John IF McKenny and his sister Ivy B McKenny (born in Bristol c.1897). Visiting the family was Jeop Francis a Danish born British Subject, who was a sailor by occupation.

In 1911 John Isaac McKenny was an “inmate – scholar” at ‘Clifton Certified Industrial School’ in Clifton Wood, Bristol. Aged 12 years, he had been born at St James, Bristol.^[2]1911 England & Wales Census. Clifton Certified Industrial School, Clifton Wood, Bristol. RG 319/35-38. 14860. findmypast.co.uk The school frequently received boys who had been committed by magistrates to a period of detention and were trained in a trade. In John McKenny’s case, it was carpentry – an occupation that would serve him well in later life. John McKenny had indeed been in trouble with the law. From the Western Daily Press, 15^th July 1908:

John McKenny, William Chiddy and Herbert Beard, three schoolboys, were charged with stealing from Rennisons’ Baths, Montpelier, a pair of boots, 5d in bronze and a pocket-knife. It was stated that there were several complaints from bathers of articles being stolen from the bath, and the police wishing for time to trace the owner of the pocket-knife, the case was remanded until the 21st inst.^[3]Western Daily Press, 15 July 1908. findmypast.co.uk

John McKenny enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment in June 1914, two months before the First World War was declared.^[4]TNA WO 372/13. ancestry.co.uk findmypast.co.uk A ‘colour bar’ prohibited men from enlisting in the British Army (or indeed the Royal Navy) unless they were of British (including Irish) decent – normally parentage. Whilst this was ostensibly aimed at preventing the infiltration of the armed forces by hostile European nations, it had a ‘racial’ dimension to it in which British Subjects ‘of colour’ from Empire nations, and indeed those born in Britain were similarly excluded. However, many regiments simply ignored the ‘colour bar’ and acted as ‘allies’ to men of African or Asian origin. Not only did they recruit them, but they also actively hid them from periodic purges by the War Office, either by failing to record their complexion or providing ambiguous answers to official queries. The website historycalroots.com features stories of many men ‘of colour’ who served in the British Army in World War One.^[5]http://www.historycalroots.com/forgotten-history/

The Gloucestershire Regiment was formed in 1881 from the 28^th (North Gloucestershire) Foot and the 61^st (South Gloucestershire) Foot.^[6]The Gloucestershire Regiment is an antecedent of The Rifles. Both regiments had enlisted Black soldiers as military musicians in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, although it is unlikely that this service was remembered in 1914 and it is almost certain that John McKenny served as an infantryman.

John Peeters, a labourer born in Antigua and described as having a black complexion, enlisted in the 28^th at Chelmsford in January 1795. He transferred to the 18^th (Royal Irish) Foot in 1800.^[7]For John Peeters see: TNA WO 25/357. The 18^th (Royal Irish) Foot, later ‘The Royal Irish Regiment’ were disbanded in 1922.

George Wilson, a cooper born on the Cape Coast of Africa c.1789 and described as having a black complexion (and also as “a negro”), enlisted in 61^st at Newry, County Down in April 1816. Discharged on a pension in 1834 his intended place of residence given as Newry, Ireland.^[8]For George Wilson see: TNA WO 25/5 and WO 97/752/91. ancestry.co.uk findmypast.co.uk

The most prominent Black soldier in the regiment was Ukawsaw Gronnoiosaw (or James Albert), who served in the 28^th during the West Indies campaign of 1762. Born in Africa and enslaved, he was freed in America. His status as a freeman was continually threatened and his enlistment in the 28^th seems to have been motivated by the need to safeguard his freedom and facilitate travelling to Britain. Whilst his service in the 28^th was relatively brief, and is not even commented on, it stands out in that his experiences before joining the 28^th are plagued by fear and persecution and after leaving the regiment and arriving in England as a civilian he is immediately ‘fleeced’ of his money by White English civilians.^[9]Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, JA. A Narrative of the Most remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, an African Prince, As related by himself.  Leominster, Kidderminster (1772). It is not known what role Ukawsaw Gronnoiosaw undertook in the 28^th, although any of the following are likely, as they were racially defined roles: Bandsman; Company Drummer; Batman (Soldier-servant to an officer); or Pioneer (A high status role in an infantry unit).

No.(2)90330 Private John McKenny served in the 8^th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment during 1914 (its first action was the Battle of Albert in July 1915), and the 1^st/5^th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment in 1915 (its first action was at Ploegstreet in April 1915).^[10]TNA WO 329/1146. ancestry.co.uk findmypast.co.uk It is not known what battalion of the regiment he served in during 1916, or whether he served at the Battle of the Somme (July to November 1916), nor if he was the Black soldier photographed serving at the Somme with D Company the 1^st/4^th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment posing with trophies following their return from raiding German trenches. However, his records confirm that he did serve overseas and that he was wounded.^[11]TNA WO 329. ancestry.co.uk findmypast.co.uk If the Black soldier of the 1^st/4^th Battalion was not John McKenny then the Gloucestershire Regiment was ‘guilty’ of circumventing the ‘colour bar’ on more than one occasion.

The (as yet unidentified) Black soldier is sitting front and centre, behind the machine gun.^[12]The photograph comes from the collection of the historian Ian Chard. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-67945251

In August 1917 John Mc Kenny briefly deserted from the Gloucestershire Regiment. His absence was reported in the Police Gazette of 25^th December 1917:

McKenny, J. #90330. 3rd (Battalion) Gloucester Regiment. Age: 20 and ¾. Height: 5/8 and ½”. Complexion: Dark. Hair: Black. Eyes: ___. Trade: Carpenter. Enlistment (date and place): 24 June 1916, Bristol. Parish and country in which born: St James, Bristol. Desertion (date and place): 27 August (1917) at Sittingbourne. Marks and remarks: Man of Colour.^[13]Police Gazette. Tuesday 25 December 1917. Absentees from Territorial Forces. findmypast.co.uk

The 3^rd Battalion was the training unit of the Gloucestershire Regiment, and it is possible that John McKenny was posted there to recover from wounds. However, the date of enlistment noted does not correspond with that given in other military records.

In May 1918, (probably whilst on leave), John McKenny fell foul of the law again. From the Western Daily Press, 24^th May 1918:

Soldier sent to Prison. At the Bristol Police Court, yesterday, John McKenny, 19, a coloured soldier, was charged with stealing a gold ring and money to the value of £5/10s, the property of William Thomas Pritchard of St George. The complainant stated that the defendant visited his house and then took the gold ring and Treasury notes, Defendant was sent to prison for three months hard labour.^[14]Western Daily Press, 24 May 1918. findmypast.co.uk

In December 1918 Private John McKenny was discharged from the Gloucestershire Regiment being no longer physically fit for service due to wounds.^[15]TNA WO 372/13. findmypast.co.uk

In 1919 he was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Silver War Badge.^[16]TNA WO 372/13. findmypast.co.uk The award of the latter (badge number No.B90399) was attributed to wounds received. He did not receive either the ‘1914 Star’ nor the ‘1914-1915 Star’ indicating that he did not see operational service until after December 1915.The address the decorations were posted to was 21 Harenehill House, Mandlin Street, (possibly Maudlin Street), Bristol.^[17]WW1 Pension Record Cards and Ledgers. ancestry.co.uk

In June 1920 at St Paul’s Church, West Dean, Gloucestershire a John McKenny (Batchelor and musician) married Nora Gladys Ellway (Spinster). Both resided at Parkerend, St Paul’s, Bristol. Whilst the bride’s father (Albert Ellway), was a humble collier, the groom’s father was identified as John McKenny “Lt.Col., 23^rd Northern State American Army”.^[18]Gloucestershire, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938. Gloucestershire Archives. ancestry.co.uk There was indeed a ‘23^rd Regiment Colored Troops’ (or ‘23^rd Regiment United States Colored Infantry’) which served with distinction in the Union Army during the American Civil War.^[19]emergingcivilwar.com/2012/02/16/fact-list-about-the-23rd-united-states-colored-troops-past-and-present/ However, it is unlikely given his age and place of birth that John McKenny (Senior) served in the unit, or if he did that he would have achieved the very senior rank of ‘Lieutenant Colonel’.

Back in ‘civvy street’ John McKenny once again found himself in trouble with the law. In 1921 he found himself incarcerated in HMP Bristol. From the 1921 England Census:

John McKenny. Inmate. 22 years and 10 months. Male. Married. Born Bristol, Gloucestershire. Carpenter at B. Maggs & Co Cabinet Makers (out of work). One child under one year of age.^[20]1921 England Census. RG 15. 11898/2/474/8/RD 319 RS 8 ED 39, 40, 41. findmypast.co.uk

It is not known what offence John McKenny had been convicted of.

By 1926, the relationship between John and Nora McKenny must have broken down, because that year he married Jane (Letitia Olive) Deadman (nee’ Humphrey) in Bristol.^[21]1921 England Census. RG 15. 11898/2/474/8/RD 319 RS 8 ED 39, 40, 41. findmypast.co.uk Thereafter, he appears to have settled down.

In 1939 John and Jane McKenny and their family were living at 35 Holmesdale Road, Bristol.^[22]findmypast.co.uk

• John McKenny. Born 13^th August 1898. Male. Builder’s Carpenter & Joiner. Married.
• Jane McKenny. Born 19^thFebruary 1896. Female. Unpaid domestic duties.
• Joy (G) McKenny. Born 30^thJanuary 1916. Female. Invalid. Single.
• Leonard McKenny. Born 9^thNovember 1922. Male. Builder’s Carpenter. Single.
• Stanley McKenny. Born 16^thMarch 1928. Male. At school.
• Gilbert McKenny. Born 14(sup>thMarch 1935. Male. Under school age. Single.
• Olive (M) McKenny (Damsell). Born 20^th June 1938. Female. Under school age. Single.

Joy McKenny’s birthdate pre-dates that of the marriage of John and Jane McKenny.

John McKenny is believed to have died at Poplar, London in 1951.