Philip Brown and Thomas Kenny, VC

This page contains links to posts that relate to the story of WEA tutor Philip Brown and Durham pitman Thomas Kenny.  Thomas Kenny was awarded the Victoria Cross as a result of his bravery in rescuing the fatally wounded Brown from the battlefield on 4 November 1915.  Their story encapsulates so much of what the WEA was about.  Brown, born into relative privilege and with a glittering career ahead of him, chose instead to teach in the towns of the Durham coalfield.  When war broke out, he at first enlisted as an ordinary soldier, wanting to fight alongside his comrades. Eventually he accepted a commission with the DLI. Lieutentant Brown was fatally wounded in November 1915 and (the then) Private Kenny rescued the badly injured commanding officer from the battlefield, carrying him on his back under heavy gunfire.  Thomas Kenny’s bravery was immediately noted and he was awarded the Victoria Cross.  The Brown family and Kenny remained in touch throughout and beyond the War.

• Starting Out places this story in the context of the project at its outset.
• A special Christmas greeting shows a letter written by Sergeant Kenny to the Brown family in 1916.
• Philip Brown – Hatfield College War Memorial contains images from the memorial and links to other relevant webpages.
• Thomas Kenny, VC – Wheatley Hill  recounts a visit to Kenny’s grave at Wheatley Hill cemetery, and his importance to the area.
• A Mild Enemy in Front of Us details the “For Valour” exhibition at the DLI Museum and Art Gallery, which features the story of Thomas Kenny, alongside some printed copies of Philip Brown’s letters to his mother.
• A Visit to the Palace. Mrs Brown’s account of Thomas Kenny’s VC Ceremony brings together Mrs Brown’s personal account of the March 4th ceremony at Buckingham Palace, alongside several press clippings and photographs.
• Our Visit to the War Graves – Part 1, an important centenary at Ration Farm recounts how our volunteers joined Philip Brown’s great niece, Gerry Vincent to lay a wreath at his grave in the military cemetery of Ration Farm, near Armentieres.
• Our Visit to the War Graves – part 2: Loos, Dud Corner touches on the story of Philip Brown’s brother, Theo, who features on the Loos Memorial
• In the Papers details an article on the Brown and Kenny story in The Journal
• Digging for Hidden Histories includes information about and a photograph of the memorial plaque at the LSE, which features Brown’s name.