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Private James McKenzie

 

James McKenzie was born on 5 April 1901 at Woodbine Cottage, 114 Duncairn Street, Belfast, the last of five children of master house painter William James McKenzie and his wife Jane (née Millar). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Ashley View, Parkmount Road, Belfast, with his parents and siblings.

McKenzie enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 14 September 1918 (Corps of Hussars No.72149). He trained at the Antrim reserve camp but soon fell ill. Found to be suffering from tuberculosis of the left wrist, he was discharged on 17 April 1919, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392(xvi), King's Regulations). As the illness was attributable to his army service he was granted a pension, his level of disability assessed at 80 per cent in March 1920. (It had improved to 30 per cent by November 1922.)

 

Both McKenzie's brothers also served during the war: Albert McKenzie in the North Irish Horse; and David McKenzie as a driver in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

 

This page last updated 13 December 2022.