MCKENZIE, John Edward
| Service Number: | 3908 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Echuca War Memorial, Wooroolin Great War Pictorial Honour Roll, Wooroolin WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 3908, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 3908, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney |
McKenzie John Edward - 3908 - 15th Infantry Battalion
John Edward McKenzie, known as Jack, was born in Jul 1884 at Echuca, Victoria the 3rd of 6 children of Hugh and Margaret McKenzie. His father was a well-known politician and stock and station agent who is mentioned in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
By 1906 Jack McKenzie was living at Wyma Vale at Kunioon and by 1912 he was living at Wooroolin. In 1914 he was best man for James Logan & Ruth Langtree at their wedding in Brisbane. I am not sure if Jack had a farm at Wooroolin or if he was a labourer. His Army records state Farmer whilst the electoral rolls show farm labourer but the EC do not get updated unless people move.
Jack McKenzie enlisted in the Australian Army on 15 Jul 1915 and he was assigned to 15th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement and his unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on 30 November 1915.
His army records show that Jack was 30 years 10 months old and was 5ft 8 ½ inches tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His distinguishing were scars on left cheek and left shin and left of head. He was Catholic denomination.
Jack was admitted to hospital in Abyssinia on 15 Feb 1916 with Mumps. Thanks to Mr Google I discovered that in World War I, the total number of cases admitted to hospital and quarters for mumps was 230,356, an annual rate of 55.80 per 1,000 average strength. Except for influenza and gonococcal infection, the incidence was higher for mumps than for any other communicable disease.
By August 1916 Jack was serving in France when he was severely wounded – gunshot wound to neck and right arm. He embarked on-board the hospital ship “St Denis” at Boulogne for England and admitted to hospital at Portsmouth. Jack was treated in England in various hospitals for almost 3 years! He left England for Australia on-board the HT Ormonde on 16 June 1919 arriving in Melbourne on 1 Aug 1919. He was eventually discharged from the army in May 1921 as Medically Unfit – Disability – GWS Neck – severe Brachial Plexus. Mr Google tells me that is a feeling like an electric shock or a burning sensation shooting down the arm; Numbness and weakness in the arm.
The electoral rolls show that Jack was still enrolled at Wooroolin until 1925 but he was also enrolled at Echuca from 1924 where he was working as a clerk! I don’t think Jack ever returned to Wooroolin after the war and I have not found electoral rolls for him after 1927. His photo is included in the photographic memorial to the Wooroolin soldiers during WW1 titled “For King and Country - Wooroolin Volunteers 1914 – 1916”.
Jack died in 1957 possibly at St Kilda and is buried at Moama Cemetery just 7km from Echuca where he was born.
Jack is also remembered on the Echuca WW1 Memorial which was erected by the residents of Echuca and district in honour of those who fought and fell for the empire. Hon H McKenzie president Echuca Soldiers Memorial Committee.
Submitted 8 May 2023 by Carol Berry
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