Daniel Humphrey MCKENZIE DCM

MCKENZIE, Daniel Humphrey

Service Number: 2948
Enlisted: 8 June 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 10th Infantry Battalion
Born: Dulwich, Adelaide, South Australia, 19 March 1888
Home Town: Semaphore, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia
Schooling: Le Fevre Peninsula Public School, South Australia
Occupation: Painter
Died: Killed in Action, France, 25 February 1917, aged 28 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)
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World War 1 Service

8 Jun 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2948, 10th Infantry Battalion
21 Sep 1915: Involvement Private, 2948, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: ''
21 Sep 1915: Embarked Private, 2948, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide
25 Nov 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2948, 10th Infantry Battalion, Arrived in Mudros Greece from Adelaide,SA.
29 Dec 1915: Embarked Private, 2948, 10th Infantry Battalion, Embarked, bound for Alexandria.
3 Apr 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2948, 10th Infantry Battalion, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, The 1st ANZAC division Arrives in Marseilles in preparation for the Western Front.
7 Apr 1916: Involvement Private, 2948, 10th Infantry Battalion, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, The 1st ANZAC division enters the fight at the western front in Fleurbaix, South of the manufacturing town Armentieres.
4 Oct 1916: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Battle for Pozières , During the taking of Melville Post all of the N.C.Os were wounded and Private McKenzie Lead the bayonet charge against the enemy. He was knocked over three times by shells.

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Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College

Born in approximate March in 1888 Private Daniel McKenzie (D.C.M) was born in the suburb of Parkside in the state of South Australia. Private McKenzie was born into the family of Maggie and Daniel McKenzie and lived for most of his life on Germien Street, Semaphore in SA. Private McKenzie grew up in a Scottish household. Private McKenzie was a Baptist and would have attended the only Baptist church in Semaphore, The Semaphore Park Baptist Church.

Before his enlistment into the Great War Private McKenzie also served in the S.A.S.I (South Australia Scottish Infinitary) which was a well organised force in South Australia that was focused as a link to the British influence within Australia at the time. Private McKenzie would have worn the ceremonial uniform for the S.A.S.I which included a pointed helmet, kilt, sword.

Upon enlistment Private Daniel Humphrey McKenzie stood 5 feet 7 inches tall with blue eyes and fair hair. Private McKenzie enlisted at Mitcham Army Camp on the eighth of June 1915. He took a health examination and said the Oath which bonded soldiers to their country. He was placed into the 10th Battalion of South Australia and the 9th reinforcement.

Private McKenzie trained for three months at Mitcham army camp before embarking on the HAMT A15 Star of England on the 21st of September 1915 destined for Mudros in Greece. The Star of England arrived in Mudros on the 25th of November 1915 and moved to Alexandria on the 29th of December 1915. Private McKenzie stayed in Alexandria until the 27th of March 1916 when he sailed to Marseilles. The Private arrived in Marseilles on 3rd of April 1916 where his division (1st Anzac Division) was carried north and were billeted in the St Omer-Aire-Hazebrouck region of French Flanders.

On April 7th, 1916 the Australian First division entered the front lines in Fleurbaix which was south of manufacturing town Armentieres. It was during the battle of the Somme on the 4th of October 1916 when Private Daniel McKenzie earnt the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous bravery in the taking of Melville post.

Private McKenzie was awarded the D.C.M for conspicuous gallantry in action. When the N.C.Os had become casualties, he took charge in the field of the bayonet team. During his endeavour Private McKenzie was knocked over three times from shells and continued to run at the enemy with a great speed. Through this action Private McKenzie showed the ANZAC spirt by being courageous and brave under fire in overwhelming odds.

Unfortunately, due to the wet muddy and unhygienic conditions and the harsh cold winter of France Private McKenzie soon fell ill and was admitted to hospital on the 6th of January 1917 and after 10 days he re-joined the battalion. Soon after the 10th battalion was sent to the Hindenburg line where the German forces were retreating to stronger defensive points with the hope that the unrestricted U-boat campaign would reduce the Allies' ability to wage war.

Daniel McKenzie was killed in action on 25th February 1917. The details are uncertain but on that day the 10th Battalion carried out a raid on an enemy trench which incurred many casualties. The circular completed by his father says he was killed in the act of rescuing a wounded comrade. His body could not be recovered.

After his death all his personal belongings were given to his mother all His belonging included a book, clothes, wallet, photos, periscope and other supplied item most importantly his mother received the medal which Private McKenzie earnt. Today we recognise that Private McKenzie and thousands of others made the ultimate sacrifice into bettering the lives of people.

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