Forgotten Heroes - Private Thomas James Bede Kenny.V.C.

Private Thomas James Bede Kenny, 2nd Battalion, Victoria Cross action at Hermies, France.

Bede Kenny was born at Paddington, Sydney, and enlisted in the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, in August 1915, before his 19th birthday. A tall and powerful man, he became a well known member of his battalion and, later, a familiar figure at Sydney's ANZAC Day ceremonies.

On 9 April 1917, at Hermies, France, Kenny's platoon had to dig in on the edge of the village and engage any enemy attempting to leave. Several men were pinned down by heavy enemy fire before Kenny leapt up and rushed a post, throwing bombs as he ran. Although the first two missed, Kenny's third bomb landed in the middle of the Germans, killing some, while the rest became prisoners. His action made a significant contribution to the capture of the village.

Not long afterwards Kenny was evacuated to Britain with trench foot, and did not rejoin his battalion until May 1918. He received a light wound the following month. Kenny came home on HMAT Medic with other Victoria Cross recipients to a hero's welcome. In later years he was a traveller for a wine company.

A World Without Numbers

Imagine a world without numbers.
No more adding and subtracting.
All houses would be called by name,
‘Bill and Brenda’s House’
‘Hobbiton’
‘Shalom’
The list would be endless, everyone trying to capture the perfect unique name.
Think of car number plates, postcodes, clothes sizes and money.
How would you account for money in a world without numbers?
The mind boggles.
I would be out of a job.
In such a world Accountancy would be a very different profession.
What ! I hear you gasp.
Yes, I know it is difficult to believe but I am an Accountant.
Just the word Accountant conjures up images and words you would sooner forget.
Dull
Dull
Extremely Dull
Listening to anything about tax loopholes would send most sane individuals into a coma.
When it comes to Accountancy and watching paint dry, the later usually wins hands down.
Thanks to Monty Python the die has been cast forever.



So I have a confession to make, I really do like accountancy.
All right
Control yourselves and stop laughing now
But there is to me something deeply satisfying about reconciling accounts and balancing books.
I know I could have been a lion tamer, but all the excitement would have probably been too much for me.

So now you know my dark secret, what else can I tell you about me?
I love history, any history.
I love football, cricket and ice hockey.
I love movies.
I love books.
I love my wife and three children,
But most of all I love Jesus, without him my life would have no meaning, direction, purpose and focus.
Everything and I mean everything centres round Him and his saving grace.

So there you have it.
Welcome to a corner of the world, where for just a few moments every now and then you get a glimpse into an adventure called my life.