A SERIOUSLY REMARKABLE
"DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL" &
1914-1915 Trio.




To:
10494. Pte.W. KILKENNY. 1st Battalion THE SCOTS GUARDS.
Who picked up a live German stick grenade and threw it back at the enemy.

CITATION. LONDON GAZETTE. 6th September 1915

"For gallant conduct on 27th July 1915, near Cambrin. He was coming out of his dugout to relieve a man on sentry duty when a bomb fell at the entrance. Private Kilkenny immediately threw it over the parapet, where it at once exploded. His prompt action undoubtedly saved the life of the sentry and probably also those of the men inside the dugout."

[BIOGRAPHY, IN a LOT of TROUBLE.]
William Kilkenny was born in 1882 and came from Rutherglen, Glasgow. An ex-coal miner, he initially joined the Scots Guards on 4th September 1901 aged 19. He had only been in the army for just over four months when in January 1902 he is seen being court marshalled for, " Breaking out of Barracks" and "loss of equipment". For this offence he received 21 days hard labour and stoppages. Only a few weeks went by and he is again seen in trouble by going A.W.O.L. on 12th March 1902 and being arrested by the civil police. He was locked in the police cells on 13th March, transferred to the guard room on 16th and transferred to a Prison for three weeks on 18th March with a return to duty on 8th April. He was then in trouble yet again, when on 21st August 1902 he was arrested for an assault on the civil police , general assault and for being drunk & disorderly for which he received three months & two weeks jail with hard labour. His first period of service with the Scots Guards came to an abrupt end on 24th December 1903 after he committed a serious criminal offence ( details not known ) and was thrown out of the army. It is assumed that he then spent a further and more prolonged period in prison. A good research project to find out how long and what for !!

[WORLD WAR ONE SERVICE]
William was again in serious trouble on 7th September 1914 when he again at age 32 enlisted at Caterham for the 1st Bn Scots Guards WITHOUT declaring his previous military service or his periods of imprisonment. It looks like he was just 'finger wagged' for this as the war was on and he was clearly needed back in service. Presumably, this offence was left on the books for later action but removed after his exemplary war service & great gallantry in France. He entered France with the Scots Guards on 5th January 1915 and was discharged (sick) in 1917. Also entitled to a silver war badge.

An interesting man and clearly a heavy drinking and colourful Scottsman who was also very brave.

Most unusually, the group comes with copies of BOTH sets of service and other interesting papers. Also copies of his MIC / DCM cards and war diary copies of the DCM action dates.

AN EXCELLENT AND WELL DOCUMENTED GROUP BOUND FOR INCLUSION IN ANY FINE SCOTS OR GALLANTRY COLLECTION.

£2550 with part-exchanges welcome.