Albert Edward Mckenzie
Able Seaman, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 798 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Able Seaman all Able Seamans →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Vindictive) all HMS Vindictive VCs →
- Date of action
- 22–23 April 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 23rd July, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 23rd October, 1898 at Bermondsey, London
- Died
- 3rd November 1918 at Southwark, London
- Memorial / grave
- at Forest Hill Road Cemetery, Camberwell, London
Digest of citation
On 22nd/23rd April, 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Able Seaman Mckenzie was a member of a storming party on the night of the operation. He landed with his machine gun in the face of great difficulties, advancing down the Mole with his commanding officer * who with most of his party was killed. The seaman accounted for several of the enemy running for shelter to a destroyer alongside the Mole, and was severely wounded whilst working his gun in an exposed position
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
McKENZIE, Albert Edward. (reg No. 798).
Able Seaman Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 23rd July, 1918.
Born on 23rd October, 1898 at Bermondsey, London.
Died on 3rd November 1918 at Southwark, London.
Memorial on grave at Forest Hill Road Cemetery, Camberwell, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On 22nd/23rd April, 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Able Seaman Mckenzie was a member of a storming party on the night of the operation. He landed with his machine gun in the face of great difficulties, advancing down the Mole with his commanding officer * who with most of his party was killed. The seaman accounted for several of the enemy running for shelter to a destroyer alongside the Mole, and was severely wounded whilst working his gun in an exposed position.
* See A L Harrison. (reg No. 535).
Additional information:. Albert McKENZIE was born at No. 10 Alice Street, Bermondsey. He was the son of a photographer, Alexander McKenzie and his wife Eliza (née Marks). He was educated at Webb Street School and also at Mina Street School, Bermondsey. On the 20th June 1914 he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy (second class). He served from the 18th December, 1914, as a Boy First Class, until he became an Able Seaman (April 23rd 1916). He enjoyed boxing and eventually became the 4th Battle Cruiser Squadron Champion (light weight). On the 31st July 1918 he received the Victoria Cross from King George V. He was still on crutches at the time, recovering from his injuries. Unfortunately, like Lieutenant Sandford (reg No. 1106), he was unlucky, as on the 3rd December 1918 he died, during the epidemic of 1918, from influenza. His funeral was attended by Captain Alfred Carpenter VC. Also in attendance was Mr McNamara, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, who said, "Mrs Mckenzie has lost a son, but the nation has found a hero." John Winton adds a note of interest in his book, "Victoria Cross at Sea," it says that McKENZIE was one of 'St Mark's Little Army.' This referred to the members of that parish, in London, and who went off to fight in 1914-18. Of these, 518 of them were killed or died. 81 of them were awarded war decorations.
Additional information
Albert McKENZIE was born at No. 10 Alice Street, Bermondsey. He was the son of a photographer, Alexander McKenzie and his wife Eliza (née Marks). He was educated at Webb Street School and also at Mina Street School, Bermondsey. On the 20th June 1914 he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy (second class). He served from the 18th December, 1914, as a Boy First Class, until he became an Able Seaman (April 23rd 1916). He enjoyed boxing and eventually became the 4th Battle Cruiser Squadron Champion (light weight). On the 31st July 1918 he received the Victoria Cross from King George V. He was still on crutches at the time, recovering from his injuries. Unfortunately, like Lieutenant Sandford (reg No. 1106), he was unlucky, as on the 3rd December 1918 he died, during the epidemic of 1918, from influenza. His funeral was attended by Captain Alfred Carpenter VC. Also in attendance was Mr McNamara, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, who said, "Mrs Mckenzie has lost a son, but the nation has found a hero." John Winton adds a note of interest in his book, "Victoria Cross at Sea," it says that McKENZIE was one of 'St Mark's Little Army.' This referred to the members of that parish, in London, and who went off to fight in 1914-18. Of these, 518 of them were killed or died. 81 of them were awarded war decorations.
* See A L Harrison. (reg No. 535).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Forest Hill Road Cemetery, Camberwell, London
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