Ordinary Seaman V/1540, Joseph Alphonsus McKenna, Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve, was born 24th November 1922 at Pownal, Prince Edward Island, Canada. He was one of four children, the son of Peter Joseph McKenna (1876 to 1953) and Bridget Ann Curran (1878 to 1941), both of Irish descent.

Whilst employed as a farmer, Joseph enlisted on the 5th of May 1941 at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island at at the outbreak of war.

He was killed on the 19th of August1942 taking part in the Dieppe Raid. He was a crew member of a landing craft attempting to rescue Canadian infantry men from the beach and was firing a Lewis gun to provide cover when he was shot in the chest and killed instantly. His body was brought back to Newhaven, Sussex, where he was buried in the town cemetery.

The Medal Index for Joseph shows his entitlement to the 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, C.V.S.M with clasp and the War Medal.

A newspaper reported his death under the column heading:

“Sacrificed life to save soldiers”

An officer at Canadian Naval Headquarters wrote to father he noted that

"Joseph was one of a fine group that I brought over from Halifax in February. All reports of his service were excellent, and he successfully carried out the task which he set himself.

The craft in which your son was serving was under the command of Sub-Lieutenant Ben Franklin RNVR.

The action in which your son gave his life was a most gallant episode, and is referred to in the official report by Colonel the Hon. J.L Ralston in the following words:-

“... Numerous cases of gallantry on the part of such personnel were recorded. At one point light craft ventured into extremely heavy fire to rescue men of the Royal Regiment of Canada who were clinging to the bottom of an overturned landing craft close to the shore. Of these craft one was commanded by a Canadian Officer and in another by a Canadian rating and an English rating sacrificed their lives to save these soldiers…”Your son was the Canadian rating referred to. Sub Lieutenant Franklin was wounded in the engagement. You have every reason to feel very proud of your son. The funeral of your son and of five others who lost their lives in the same engagement took place on August 26th. The funeral was conducted simultaneously by the Roman Catholic priest, the non-conformist minister and the Naval Chaplain. Your son was buried with the rites of the church and the committal was performed by his own priest, the Rev. Father D Caussirat, the Roman Catholic officiating chaplain….”"