MCKENZIE, Charles John
| Service Number: | 28819 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 April 1916, 2.5 years Cadets and training |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | Medium Trench Mortar Batteries |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, 25 May 1896 |
| Home Town: | East Maitland, Maitland Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Wounds, 3rd General Hospital, Calais, France, 19 October 1917, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Calais Southern Cemetery, France Calais Southern Cemetery (Plot A, Row 3, Grave No. 2), France, Calais Southern Cemetery, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 28819, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, 2.5 years Cadets and training | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 28819, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Mashobra embarkation_ship_number: A47 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Sep 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 28819, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, HMAT Mashobra, Sydney | |
| 21 Jul 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 28819, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, GSW right foot | |
| 15 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 28819, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, 1st Passchendaele, Gassed DoW 3rd General Hospital, Calias | |
| 19 Oct 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 28819, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 28819 awm_unit: 101st Australian (Howitzer) Battery awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1917-10-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery, have I been forgotten?
104 years ago today, on the 19th October 1917, Gunner Charles John McKenzie, 101st Australian Howitzer Battery (Reg No-28819), farmer from H. M. Gaol, East Maitland, New South Wales, Died of Wounds received at the 1st Battle of Passchendaele during the Passchendaele Campaign, age 21 years 4 months.
Born at Broken Hill, New South Wales on the 25th May 1896 to John (Governor, East Maitland Gaol, died 1925) and Regina Bellastella (died 1952 - no funeral, death or obituary notice located) McKenzie of 3 Henry Street, Merewether, New South Wales and Long Bay, Sydney, N.S.W., Charles enlisted April 1916 with the Medium Trench Mortar Battery at Sydney, N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 20.7.1917 (GSW foot), 15.10.1917 (gassed).
Charles is resting at Calais Southern Cemetery, France. Plot A Row 2 Grave 2.
Mr. McKenzie’s name has not been inscribed on the East Maitland Soldiers' Memorial or any known War Memorial or Roll of Honour. Name possibly inscribed on the East Maitland Municipal District Roll of Honor and the Albury and District War Memorial as this was his place of association.
There is no memorial inscription on the headstone at the family gravesite to tell us of the supreme sacrifice of their son Charles, so February 2018 I placed a memorial cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the memorialised grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service. CATHOLIC 1-G Spec. 53.
Older brother Donald served with the Royal Australian Navy (1077, H.M.A.S. Platypus, Australia, born 18.2.1894, Broken Hill, N.S.W., died 1968, Richmond, N.S.W.).
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.