Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Photo of Ralph Kenny – Ralph Kenny 1898-1921 Ralph was born on the family farm at St. Albert Station, Finch Township, Ontario, His parents were Robert Kenny and Catherine McDiarmid. He enlisted with the 156th (Leeds,Grenville) and arrived in England 28th October 1916. A training accident in England put him in hospital. Ralph saw active service in France with the 4th Canadian Labour Battalion from 31st March 1918, and with the 38th (Royal Ottawa) from 26th July 1918 to the end of the war. In 1984, Ralph's sister Mable (Kenny) Mackie, Taft, California, wrote: 'Brother Ralph, who was the Irishman of the family, dark eyes & hair, with a light complexion, was shorter than (his brother) Norman. He was going to high school in Morewood (Ontario) and not quite finished when he decided to join the Army in World War I and was sent to France shortly after where he served in a Machine Gun Unit ' He arrived home the following summer but became very ill ' as a result of War Service. It was nephritis, a kidney disease ' He was moved to a hospital in Ottawa ' I went to see him very day for about five months. He was then moved to a Veterans Hospital in Kingston where he died the following spring ' his mother was with him when he died ' It was a sad chapter in our family life, but one I think should be remembered ' We were born about twenty months apart and grew up together.'