William Hector MacKENZIE (McKENZIE)

William Hector McKenzie was born William Hector Kowla Hussey 7 July 1892 to Sarah Hussey.  In 1897 she married Duncan Thomas Neish MacKenzie and they had five children, Robert Duncan Neish born 1898, Louisa Mary Ann Helen 1900, Violet Christina May 1902, Alexander Charles Neish 1906 and Duncan George Gilbert 1911.

On his enlistment William was aged 22 years 7 months, occupation Labourer and his next of kin, his mother, Ann McKenzie, McLeod St, Cairns.  He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 11 stone 7 pounds with fair complexion, brown eyes and light brown hair.  His religion was Presbyterian.

He embarked from Brisbane on 29 June 1915 on the HMAT Aeneas and arrived on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 4 September 1915.  He was admitted sick to the field hospital on 25 September then transferred to Mudros a small Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea on 30 September.  He was transferred to Cairo, Egypt on 5 October then discharged and returned to duty at Gallipoli on 13 November 1915.  He left Gallipoli on 9 January 1916 then proceeded to Marseilles, Frances via Egypt.

William was wounded in action on 5th August 1916 and admitted to 44th Casual Clearing Station on 6 August where he died of his wounds on 10 August 1916.  He was buried at Puchevillers British Cemetery, Puchevillers, Picardie, France