Alexander McGregor McKENZIE

Regimental number1797A
Place of birthTalia, South Australia
Other NamesAlexander McGregor
SchoolTalia Public School, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressTalia, West Coast, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 7"
Weight151 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs M McKenzie, Talia, West Coast, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date7 May 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll2 May 1915
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name27th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/44/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A61 Kanowna on 23 June 1915
Regimental number from Nominal Roll1797A
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingPozieres, France (according to mother)
Age at death from cemetery records25
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row D, Grave No 1), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
120
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James and Mary McKENZIE
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 4 September 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria from Mudros, 10 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Admitted to 6th Field Ambulance, 10 March 1916 (jaundice); transferred to 1st Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 11 March 1916; discharged to duty, 19 March 1916.

Taken on strength, 32nd Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 6 April 1916; absorbed on strength, 32nd Bn, Ferry Post, 24 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing, 20 July 1916.

Prisoner of War German list dated 4 November 1916 received by Wounded and Missing Inquiry Bureau.

File (p. 3) bears notation: 'Identification disc received from Germany. No particulars were afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported as KILLED IN ACTION 20/7/16.'

German report, 2 August 1916: 'austr. Sold. McKenzie, A.M.G. Erk.Mrk. 1797, 32.Bn am 19.7 in Gegend Fromelles gefallen.'

Note on Red Cross File No 1930109: 'Disc received from Germany and forwarded to next of kin 20.6.17.'

Note on file: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 5), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
Miscellaneous detailsAddress incorrectly recorded on Embarkation Roll as Sailia, West Coast, South Australia.
SourcesNAA: B2455, McKENZIE Alexander McGregor
Red Cross file 1930109