McKENZIE, Kenneth Fraser

Kenneth Fraser McKenzie was the only living son of Mrs. Marjorie Jane Fraser McKenzie, a widow, and her  late husband George Kenneth McKenzie. He was brother to seven sisters: Margaret, Lila, Flora,Sara, Jane. Another son, Daniel, had died at two years of age. Mrs. McKenzie and her daughters lived at 60 [now 82] Jolimont Street, Jolimont. Kenneth was a School Teacher at the time he enlisted and was living at 1105 Hoddle St., East Melbourne. He joined up on 31 July 1915 and, after training at Broadmeadows with the 7th Reinforcements of the 21st Battalion, embarked from Melbourne on 18 November, 1915, on HMAT Wiltshire A 18, for Suez. At this stage, he was appointed as a temporary Corporal, to revert to ranks on arrival.

On 26 February, 1916, he was taken on strength with the depleted 60th Battalion and underwent further training at Alexandria. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 13 April, fell ill on 15 April, and was transferred from the Ambulance Station to hospital before returning to the battalion.

The 60th Battalion was raised in February 1916 in Egypt, combining the soldiers of 8th battalion, 1st Brigade, with the new recruits from Australia. The 6oth Battalion formed part of the 15th Brigade, attached to the Australian 5th Division. They embarked from Alexandria on 18 June, on board the 'Kinfauns Castle', disembarking at Marseilles in France on 29 June, 1916. From here, they went by train, then marched in to the war front.

They experienced their first battle at Fromelles, the attack on Fleurbaix, on 19 July, 1916. The attack marked the debut of the AIF on the Western Front and the Australian War Museum described it as 'the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history'. there were 5,533 casualties from the 5th Divison, while the 6oth Battalion alone had 757 casualties.

Kenneth McKenzie was one of those who died. On 19 July, 1916, he was killed at Fleurbaix, France, aged 29. He has no known grave, but is remembered with honour at V.C. Corner, Fromelles, Lilles, Nord Pas de Calais. He is listed on the AWM Roll of Honour Cards 145 and on Panel 170 of the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Museum, Caberra.

The Red Cross files reflect the lack of information from that dreadful day. At the inquiry into his death in 1919, Captain Mills stated that there was 'No trace Germany' and his body was never found, although the family desperately tried to get information. Another witness, Major J.M. Lean testified only that 'the men of the 6oth went over the top at Fleurbaix on 19th July, he was in C Company'. The Reverend W.C. Moulton, who had married one of Kenneth's sisters wrote to the army authorities that 'his widowed mother and sisters are distracted by grief, because they have no tidings of him'. One sister wrote 'I have no record as to burial, only this bare fact, that the men of his battalion went into action and few of his comrades returned.'

Kenneth McKenzie's mother was given a pension of two pounds per fortnight. In 1919, she was living with her daughter Mildred at 68 Wheatlands Rd., Malvern, Victoria.

Photo below: Studio portrait of 3208 Acting Corporal (later Lance Corporal) Kenneth Fraser McKenzie, 21st (later 60th) Battalion of East Melbourne, Victoria.