Donald MacKENZIE (McKENZIE)

Donald MacKenzie (McKenzie) was born in Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland.  In the 1901 census of Dunoon, Donald was aged 7, a scholar and his family were, Donald McKenzie 51 a Ship Steward, Elizabeth (his mother) 42 and siblings, Alexander 15 (referred to in the image), Catherine 10, John 9, Elizabeth 5, Janet 4 and William 2 months.

On his enlistment in Cairns on the 21 August 1914 he was 21 years 7 months of age, occupation a Carpenter and his next of kin, Mrs Bessie (Elizabeth) Mackenzie, Dunoon, Scotland. His height was 5 feet 7 1/2 inches, weighed 148 pounds with fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. His religion was Presbyterian. He stated that he had previously served 3 years with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlander Territorials.

Donald embarked on HMAT Omrah from Brisbane on 24 September 1914.  He spent 18 months in the Middle East, with several admissions to hospital in Mudros, Greece or Cairo, Egypt before landing in Marseilles, France on 3 April 1916.

He suffered a gunshot wound on 20 July that year and was admitted to hospital at Touquet, France before being transferred to England.  He returned to France a year later and was wounded again shortly after and was returned to England on 26 September 1917.  On return to France he was gassed on 7 March 1918 and again sent to England for treatment.  He returned to France and rejoined his unit on 15 June 1918 and on 23 June he was reported wounded and missing.

Donald MacKenzie, SN 950, according the records, is buried in Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord Pas de Calais, France.