Patrick and John were the sons of Patrick (senior) and Mary Ann Kenealy née Hessian. Both Patrick and Mary Ann were born in Ireland around 1860 and had come to live in Stockport. They married in early 1885. Patrick was born in the later part of 1892 and was the youngest child.

Spelling of the family surname is very varied. Earlier records have variations of “Connelly” and even “Cannaly”. Later, the spelling settles on “Kenealy” (first recorded at St. Joseph’s Church). However, Army records refer to Patrick Kennealy.

The family lived at 10 Tatton Street, Stockport, just the other side of St. Petersgate from St. Joseph’s R.C. Church. Patrick (senior) worked as a spinner in the cotton mills. Patrick (senior) and Mary Ann had four more children: John, Martin, Bridget, and Margaret.

Unfortunately, Patrick’s mother, Mary Ann, died in 1895 aged 32 years, when Patrick was just 2½ years old. The family stayed on in Tatton Street, moving to No. 4 by the 1901 census. They were helped by Mary Ann’s sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and John Diffely.

Patrick Kenealy (senior) died in 1902 aged 36 years. Probably at this time, his children went to live with their aunt and uncle who lived at 14 Tatton Street.

Two more deaths followed: Margaret in 1905 aged 15, and Martin in 1908 aged 20. Also, at this time, Bridget became blind and went to live at the St Vincent’s Catholic Asylum for the Blind in Liverpool, where she trained as a chair caner.

In 1911, Patrick was working in the cotton spinning mills.

Patrick Kenealy enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment Reserves on 14th November 1913 for a 6-year term. He was in the Special Reserves with regular training commitments. The Special Reserves would be called up in the event of a general mobilisation, and he was mobilised on 8th August 1914.

Patrick was sent out to reinforce the 1st Cheshires in France on 7th October 1914 and may have taken part in the attacks on Violaines and La Bassée that month. By November, the Battalion was involved in the First Battle of Ypres.

On 7th November, Patrick was shot in the left hand and evacuated to England on 10th November. He remained convalescing in the Army until 1917, presumably in the hope that he would recover.

However, Patrick had also contracted tuberculosis and was discharged with a pension on 31st May 1917. Patrick went back to live with his uncle and aunt, but he was a sick man and died in Stockport on 21st August 1918.

Patrick and a number of other soldiers who lie in unmarked graves in Stockport Borough Cemetery are commemorated on a screen wall near the entrance.

Patrick is also commemorated at the Stockport War Memorial, Wellington Road South, Stockport and on the War Memorial in St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, Tatton Street, Stockport next to his brother John.

1. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. “Find War Dead”.
2. War Office: Soldiers’ Documents from Pension Claims, WO364; Piece: 1985; The National Archives of the UK. 
3. Free BMD Births Dec 1892, Kenealey, Patrick, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 51. 
4. Free BMD Deaths Jun 1895 Connelly, Mary Ann, Age 32, Stockport. Vol 8a, Page 54. 
5. The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England, 1901 Census; Class: RG13; Piece: 3291; Folio: 20; Page: 32; 1911 Census; Class: RG14; Piece: 21395 and Class: RG14; Piece: 22356; Page: 3. 
6. Free BMD Deaths Mar 1902, Kenealy, Patrick, Age 36, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 41. 
7. Free BMD Deaths Mar 1906, Kenealy, Margaret, Age 15, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 37. 
8. Free BMD Deaths Mar 1908, Kenealy, Martin, Age 20, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 64. 
9. Free BMD Deaths Sep 1918, Kenealy, Patrick, Age 25, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 87. 
10. Hartley, John, “More than a Name” 2008. 
11. Wells, Dominic “The Soldiers of St. Joseph’s Parish” 2018. 
12. Cheshire Regiment Badge IWM (INS 5616).