Private James Gordon MCKENZIE (12935)
1st Battalion Scots Guards

Date of birth: 1st May 1889
Date of death: 6th November 1916

Died aged 27
Buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension Plot I Row J Grave13
James Gordon McKenzie was born at Glenlivet on the 1st of May 1889 the second son of Alex McKenzie and Helen (nee McConachie) McKenzie of Tomindougle Cottage, Blacksboat in Moray.

He worked as a farm servant before enlisting in the Scots Guards at Elgin on the 4th of January 1915. At a medical examination it was recorded that he was six feet and one half inch tall and that he weighted 176lbs. He was posted for training to Caterham the following day. On the 3rd of October 1915 he underwent a further medical examination which determined that he was fit for overseas service.

He embarked for service in France on the 6th of October 1915 and joined the 1st Battalion of his regiment in the field at Bourecq on the 29th of October as one of with forty reinforcements. Soon after arriving he passed a course on bombing instruction. He was admitted to 9 Field Ambulance suffering from diarrhoea on the 19th of December 1915 and rejoined his battalion later in the month.

In September 1916 the battalion was involved in heavy fighting on the Somme and on the 30th of September they furnished burial details to recover the dead. During the day James McKenzie fell into a shell hoe and sprained his right ankle. He was evacuated by a Field Ambulance to the XIV Corps rest station the following day and was admitted to the 1st South African General Hospital at Abbeville on the 6th of October 1916. While he was there he contracted septicaemia and his father was sent a telegram dated the 3rd of November 1916 which reported that he was "dangerously ill".

His father also received the following telegram dated the 7th of November 1916: -

"1 South African Gen Hosp Abbeville L of C reports 6 November 12935 Pte. J. McKenzie 1 Scots Gds septicaemia following sprained ankle died 6 Nov."

An officer wrote:-
"He was a splendid soldier and officers and men alike speak highly of his courage and endurance."
Tomindulce

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