Hugh Mckenzie
Lieutenant, 7th Company. Canadian Machine-Gun Corps. Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Register No.
- 799 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 7th Company. Canadian Machine-Gun Corps. Canadian Expeditionary Force (register: Canadian Machine Gun Corps) all Canadian Machine Gun Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 30 October 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 13th February, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 5th December 1885 at Inverness, Scotland
- Died
- in action on 30th October, 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium
Digest of citation
At Meetscheele, near Passchendaele, Belgium, Lieutenant McKenzie when in charge of four machine guns accompanying the Infantry in an attack, seeing that all the officers and most of the NCOs had become casualties and the men were hesitating before a nest of enemy machine guns which were inflicting severe casualties, from their position on commanding ground. Handing over his command to an NCO, he rallied the Infantry into attack, capturing the strong point. Discovering that the position, a pill-box, was sweeping the ground by machine-gun fire, and dominating everything before it, Lieutenant MCKenzie reconnoitred and detailed a frontal and flanking attack and captured the pillbox. Whilst leading the frontal attack he was killed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
McKENZIE, Hugh.. (reg No. 799).
Lieutenant. 7th Company. Canadian Machine-Gun Corps. Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 13th February, 1918.
Born on 5th December 1885 at Inverness, Scotland.
Killed in action on 30th October, 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium.
Memorial at Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.
Digest of Citation reads: At Meetscheele, near Passchendaele, Belgium, Lieutenant McKenzie when in charge of four machine guns accompanying the Infantry in an attack, seeing that all the officers and most of the NCOs had become casualties and the men were hesitating before a nest of enemy machine guns which were inflicting severe casualties, from their position on commanding ground. Handing over his command to an NCO, he rallied the Infantry into attack, capturing the strong point. Discovering that the position, a pill-box, was sweeping the ground by machine-gun fire, and dominating everything before it, Lieutenant MCKenzie reconnoitred and detailed a frontal and flanking attack and captured the pillbox. Whilst leading the frontal attack he was killed.
Additional information:. Lieutenant Mckenzie also held the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D C M) and the French Croix de Guerre. A great deal has been written about this officer. It is hoped to add to this information shortly.
Additional information
Lieutenant Mckenzie also held the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D C M) and the French Croix de Guerre. A great deal has been written about this officer. It is hoped to add to this information shortly.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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