Hugh McKenzie
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Hugh McKenzie (VC, DCM, Croix de Guerre (France)), (December 5, 1885 - October 30, 1917) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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[edit] Details
He was 31 years old, and a lieutenant in the 7th Company, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 30 October 1917 at Meetscheele Spur, near Passchendaele, Belgium, Lieutenant McKenzie was in charge of a section of four machine-guns accompanying the infantry in an attack. Seeing that all the officers and most of the NCOs of an infantry company had become casualties and that the men were hesitating before a nest of enemy machine-guns, the lieutenant handed over his command to an NCO, rallied the infantry, organised an attack and captured the strong-point. He then led a frontal attack on a pill-box which was causing casualties. The pill-box was captured but he was killed.
[edit] Further information
[edit] The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Museum of the Regiments (Calgary, Alberta, Canada).
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)
[edit] External links
- HUGH MCDONALD MCKENZIE (service/personal details, photograph, citation, relevant documents, burial information)
- Legion Magazine Article on Hugh McKenzie
- Find-A-Grave profile for Hugh McKenzie
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
