1914-15 Star : Sapper G F McKenzie, 3 Field Company Engineers, AIF

1914-15 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details.

George Frank McKenzie was born at Launceston, Tasmania in 1892. He had served three and a half years in 12 Australian Infantry Regiment and was working as a fitter and turner when he enlisted in the AIF on 19 August 1914. After initial training he was assigned to 3 Field Company, Engineers as a sapper with the service number 99, and embarked at Melbourne aboard HMAT Geelong (A2) on 22 September 1914. After arriving at Alexandria, Egypt, McKenzie and his unit were engaged building trench defences and pontoon bridges across the Suez Canal in January 1915. McKenzie then landed with his unit at Gallipoli on 1 May.

In the early hours of 4 May, McKenzie was one of several members of his unit who accompanied soldiers of 11 Battalion in an attack on Gaba Tepe. This promontory south of the main Australian positions at Gallipoli was used by Turkish observers to direct artillery fire around Anzac Cove. The attack ended in failure, but for his conduct during this action McKenzie was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

McKenzie sustained a gunshot wound to the back while withdrawing from Gaba Tepe by boat. He was hospitalised at Alexandria, and rejoined his unit at Gallipoli at the end of June. For his conduct during the campaign McKenzie was also mentioned in despatches, which appeared in the London Gazette on 5 August. He was appointed Temporary Second Corporal on 20 August. McKenzie was hospitalised with illness a month later, returning to duty at the start of December. His unit had withdrawn from Gallipoli on 10 November, so McKenzie rejoined them at Mudros. He was formally promoted to Second Corporal while at sea en route to Egypt, and simultaneously appointed as Temporary Corporal. The various sections of his unit were then engaged in training and construction work in Egypt for several months, eventually embarking for France in March 1916.

McKenzie commenced construction operations with his unit in northern France. In July 1916 he reverted to the rank of sapper at his own request. He was granted leave in England in December of the same year, after which he was detached for duty to the Second Army Rest Camp, returning to his unit in Belgium in September 1917. McKenzie was granted leave in January 1918, after which he was detached for duty at the Fourth Army Works Hospital at the start of February, rejoining his unit in June. In September 1918, McKenzie transferred to London, and from there returned to Australia, arriving on 24 January 1919.