MCKENZIE, George Frank
| Service Number: | 99 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 12 June 1892 |
| Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fitter and turner |
| Died: | Heidelburg Repatriation Hospital, Victoria, Australia, 13 December 1953, aged 61 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne |
| Memorials: | Launceston Tamar Yacht Club Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 99, 3rd Field Company Engineers | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep 1914: | Involvement Sapper, 99, 3rd Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Sep 1914: | Embarked Sapper, 99, 3rd Field Company Engineers, HMAT Geelong, Melbourne |
Help us honour George Frank McKenzie's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
George McKenzie’s brother, Matthew Stanley (Stan) McKenzie died of appendicitis in Egypt late in the Gallipoli campaign. 'Stan' McKenzie was regarded as one of Tasmania’s most brilliant footballers and cricketers, and played for Carlton in the VFL.
George McKenzie was among the very first Australians to enlist during August 1914. He took part in the Anzac landing on 25 April 1915. Within a week he performed an act of courage which was rewarded with the award of a Distinguished Conduct Medal, an award that was seldom made during 1915, especially during the Gallipoli fighting. He was also mentioned in despatches for his work at Anzac Cove in general.
The Launceston Examiner published an article regarding Sapper McKenzie’s feat during September 1915, ‘The particulars of those who were admitted to the Launceston Base Hospital are: Sapper W. Cameron, 3rd Field Company Engineers. Sustained bullet wounds in left leg and right heel at Gaba Tepe fort on the Tuesday following the memorable landing. Sapper Cameron was one of the party sent to blow up the Gaba Tepe fort, and who met with unexpected resistance from the Turks. It was on this occasion that Sapper G. F. McKenzie, of Launceston, gained the Distinguished Conduct Medal for rescuing Cameron. Referring to the occurrence on Saturday Sapper Cameron said that he was struck by machine gun bullets, and McKenzie, seeing him disabled, ran for fully 50 yards, picked him up, and carried him about 20 yards to the boat. He was assisted by Sapper Roy Bowden, who has since died of wounds. All the time McKenzie was exposed to machine gun and rifle fire from the Turkish trenches only 60 yards away. “I can't say too much about McKenzie's action.” added Sapper Cameron, “It was worthy of the Victoria Cross.” Sapper Cameron has temporarily lost the use of his left leg through the nerves having been shattered. His is a "cot" case.
George returned to Australia in late 1918.
Click images to start slideshow.