Mary Jane Black Kenny       Private

Mary was born on August 23, 1917, in Glasgow, Scotland. She completed her high school equivalent and was working as a baker, at a first aid post and with the civil defence when she enlisted in 1942. She was assigned to the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and served with them through 1944. 

The ATS was the women’s branch of the British Army during World War Two. Members were not assigned to combat roles, and initially were employed as cooks, clerks, and storekeepers. However, as the war dragged on their scope broadened and they took over many of the tasks previously given to men, including drivers, postal workers, and ammunition inspectors. They also manned anti-aircraft guns, were radar operators and military police, and many other support tasks. Queen Elizabeth II trained as a lorry driver, ambulance driver and mechanic during her time in the ATS. 

When Mary was called up she went to the Munitions in Birmingham and she told them that she wanted to live a while longer and was informed that the WAAF’s and Wrens were fully booked and that the Army was the only one left, and so she joined the ATS. Private Kenny served in the nursing services, with First Aid British Red Cross, and St. Andrews Ambulance. She was discharged in 1944. 

She had married Patrick Kenny on November 26, 1942. After the war she gave birth to a daughter who passed away at 10 weeks old. Her son Michael immigrated to Canada in 1969. She and Patrick divorced in 1978.  With Mary’s background of nursing, she worked as a receptionist at the local doctor’s office until she retired at 60. She also loved to read and bake and made a lot of wedding cakes. She was 94 when she passed on April 29, 2012.

We thank her for her service.

We will remember them.