Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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236611
Dvr. William McKenzie
British Army 242nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery
from:Liverpool
William McKenzie was my grandfather. He was born in October 1899 and enlisted at the outbreak of war in 1914, at only 14 years old. His parents found out from his friend what had happened and contacted the War Office. William was found and, like Saving Private Ryan, was sent home. A few weeks later he re-enlisted and was attached to 242nd Brigade RFA.
He saw action across France and at the Somme where he contracted malaria. We believe he was convalescing in Belgium after the war and won a medal in the football league which was organised there. The medal is silver, plain generic design and bears the inscription "243 Bgd de RFA, AF League, Belgium 1919".
He survived the war and the convalescent home and died in June 1942.