This article appeared in the April 1990 NZ 28 Maori Battalion 50th Golden Jubilee Reunion booklet.    

POROPOROAKI - Obituaries

ALYMER COURTNAY LEONARD TE MARIU EDWARD KENNY

Aylmer was born at Picton on 29 October 1908 and died at Levin on 5 June 1988. From the time of his schooldays at Johnsonville, and Wellington Technical College Aylmer Kenny was the dedicated sportsman - Rugby and cricket it could be said ruled his life - so much so it would seem that he was into his 40's before he married.

Aylmer Kenny arrived in the Middle East with the 7th Reinforcements in 1941 and was soon included in such teams as were raised wherever he happened to be stationed. He was one of the stalwarts of the Maori Battalion team, which won the Divisional Rugby Championship at Tripoli in February 1943.

When Aylmer joined the Battalion he was posted to the fledgling Anti-tank platoon with which he served the whole of his army career, first as a Private and Sergeant and then after a period at OCTU as a Lieutenant.

After his marriage the 'confirmed' bachelor Kenny settled in as a model family man; he became an inspector with the Department of Trade and Industry and helped his wife Royma rear a family of 3 sons and a daughter. Before the war Aylmer Kenny played football for the Johnsonville Club and for various Maori teams. He captained the Wellington Representative side in 1941. After the war when he lived at Silverstream he joined the Upper Hutt RF Club. Aylmer Kenny's last game after 21 years of senior rugby was as captain of a Wellington Maori team.

As on so many similar occasions, we who were once close to Aylmer mourn his passing, but not too sorrowfully. He had a simple philosophy. Aylmer enjoyed life, his sport, his friends and his family. He was a family man yet a man's man - a rare combination. To Royma and her family we offer this appreciation of Aylmer Kenny the man.