James Girdwood McKenzie (1888 - 1973)

Jim's Timeline

Birth: 23 Oct 1888, in Wellington, New Zealand ^[1][2]

Education: Passed Fourth Educational Standard, in New Zealand. ^[1]

The first four standards of education covered: ... "as follows:- Reading, writing, arithmetic, English, grammar, composition, geography, history, elementary science and drawing, object lessons, vocal music, and (in the case of girls) sewing and needlework, and the principles of domestic economy." ^[3]

Military Service: "5 years D Battery", cause of discharge; "left district". ^[1]

D Battery was a Territorial Unit of the RNZAF, based at Miramar, Wellington.

Occupation: August 1914, Bushman, in Wellington, New Zealand. ^[1]

Military Service: WW1; 17 August 1914 – 11 March 1918; New Zealand 1st Expeditionary Force; 1st Battery, 3rd B.H.2., &, 11th Battery NZFA; Served in Egypt, Gallipoli, France, and Belgium. ^[1][4]

Jim served as a Corporal, Sergeant, 2nd Lieutenant, Lieutenant, and Captain in Field Artillery. He was wounded on the 29th May 1915, at "Anzac" with "gun shot wounds of the head". Jim is also recorded as wounded, date stamped 8 June 1915, in [the] "Dardanelles". On the 27th July 1915 Jim was recorded as "now recovered and sent to front".^[1]

"HEROES OF THE DARDANELLES" Auckland Star 10 June 1915

"Extracts from the 2nd Supplement to the "London Gazette" of 2/1/17, dated 4/1/17:-"
"From the Despatch of General Sir Douglas Haig, G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France, to the Secretary of State for War, dated 13th November, 1916:-"
"Sir,
I have the honour to submit a list of names of those Officers, Ladies, N.C.O's. and men, serving, or who have served, under my command, whose distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty I consider deserving of special mention:"
"Artillery"
... "Leiut. J.G. McKenzie" ^[1]

Medical Status: 19 Jan 1918, in New Zealand; "Asthma, and G.S.W. of head". ^[1]

After severe attacks of asthma in the previous months, on 31st August 1917, Jim was classified unfit for general service and recommended for return to New Zealand. ^[1]

Jim returned to New Zealand on the "S.S. Mokoia", arriving home on 4 January 1918. He was medically boarded at Wellington on 8 February 1918, suffering from asthma, and gun shot wounds of the head. He was struck off strength of N.Z.E.F., found unfit for active service permantly, unfit for home service at present, and partially fit for civil employment. Jim was awarded a half pension for six months. ^[1]

Residence: February 1918, 55 Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand. ^[1]

Military Service: 23 Feb 1918, Jim wrote asking to be placed on the Reserve of Officers. His request was granted. ^[1]

Residence: 1919, Tiraumea, Eketahuna, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. ^[5]

Occupation: 1919, Farmer, in Tiraumea, Eketahuna, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. ^[5]

Marriage: 1920 in New Zealand. ^[6]

Residence: 1928, 12 Swinburn Street, Dannevirke, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. ^[7]

Military Duty: September 1928, in Walton, Central Waikato, New Zealand; Required for "Consolidated training of Cadets and Territorials". ^[1]

Occupation: 1928, Company Agent, in Dannevirke, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. ^[7]

Residence: June 1929, 12 Swinburn Street, Dannevirke, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. ^[1]

Residence: 1935, Tapuwae, Porootarao, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. ^[8]

Occupation: 1935, Farm Manager, in Tapuwae, Porootarao, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. ^[8]

Residence: 1938, Grey Street, Te Kuiti, King Country, New Zealand. ^[9]

Occupation: 1938, District Appraiser, in Te Kuiti, King Country, New Zealand. ^[9]

Residence: August 1941, Grey Street, Te Kuiti, King Country, New Zealand. ^[1]

Occupation: Aug 1941, District Appraiser, in Te Kuiti, King Country, New Zealand. ^[1]

Military Service: WW2; 1 Aug 1941 - 31 March 1943; Home Guard, Commander of the Waitomo Battalion, &, by 1943 was also commanding the Waikato Battalion. ^[1]

"N.Z. Army Orders:"
"1st December, 1941"
"The undermentioned to be Majors (temp), and are appointed to command the Battalions as stated against their names. Dated 1st August 1941."
"James Girdwood McKenzie (Waitomo Battalion)."^[1]

Military Training: 6 Jan 1943 - 2 Feb 1943, at "N.Z. Tactical School". ^[1]

Resignation: 31 March 1943, from Reserve of Officers. ^[1]

"Resignation of HG. BN. COMD. Major J. G. McKenzie";

"... Major J. G. McKenzie relinquishes command of the Waikato Battalion, and resigns his commission. Dated 31st March 1943." ^[1]

Residence: 1957, 18 Avis Avenue, Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand; Retired. ^[10]

Widowed: 23 November 1963, "Mollie" passed away at Papatoetoe, Auckland, aged 71. ^[11][12][13]

Death of daughter: 27 August 1969, Jean Marie McKenzie passed away, aged 46. ^[12][14][15]

Residence: 1973, at 7 Evelyn Place, Northcote, Auckland. ^[1]

Jim and his sister Annie lived together in their later years at their small flat in Evelyn Place.

Death: 28 May 1973, in Auckland, New Zealand. ^{[1][2][16][17]}

Jim died of asthma, a few years after his only daughter, Jean Marie McKenzie, also died of asthma.

Cremation: 29 May 1973, at Waikumete Cemetery, Great North Road, Glen Eden, Auckland. ^[17]

Jim's ashes were scattered at Papatoetoe Cemetery, the same cemetery his wife Mary (Mollie) was buried, in the Soldiers Area. ^[18]

Burial: Papatoetoe Cemetery, Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand; Plot: RETUR-PLOT-596 ^[19]

Jim's memorial inscription reads;

"2/419, Captain, J.G. McKENZIE, Field Artillery, 1st NZEF, Died 28.5.1973, Aged 85 yrs."

Children of Jim & Mary:

Jean Marie McKenzie: b.abt.1923 - d. 27 Aug. 1969. ^[12][14][15]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22} Archives New Zealand Archway;

   Record McKENZIE, James Girdwood - WW1 2/419 - Army (7 images)

   Record MCKENZIE, James Girdwood - WWI 2/419, WWII N/N - Army (70 images)

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Aunty Claris' Book of Births, Deaths, & Marriages, Record of family dates compiled by Claris (nee Lawry) Baldick. Additions by Jenny (nee Lawry) Blacklock.
3. ↑ Papers Past, "THE EDUCATION ACT AND THE FOURTH STANDARD". NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME XXV, ISSUE 9102, 10 JULY 1888.
4. ↑ New Zealand Army WWI Nominal Rolls 1914-1918, "Reg.No: 2/419, Rank: Corporal, Name: McKenzie James Girdwood, Body or Reinforcement Draft: Main Body, Unit or Regiment: Field Artillery, Single Married or Widower: S, Last NZ Address: Wellington, Military District: Wellington, Name & Address of Next of Kin: Mrs McKenzie (mother), Upland Rd, Kelburn, Wellington."
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853-1981, 1919, Masterton Roll.
6. ↑ NZBDM Marriage Search;

   Registration Number: 1920/8363

   Bride's Given Name(s): Mary

   Bride's Family Name: Keane

   Groom's Given Name(s): James Girdwood

   Groom's Family Name: McKenzie

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853-1981, 1928, Pahiatua General Roll.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853-1981, 1935 Waitomo General Roll.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853-1981, 1938 Waitomo General Roll.
10. ↑ New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853-1981, 1957 Manukau Main Roll.
11. ↑ NZBDM Death Search;

    Registration Number: 1963/28578

    Family Name: McKenzie

    Given Name(s): Mary

    Date of Birth/Age at Death: 71Y

12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Ancestry.com, New Zealand, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007; image 6748 of 18282, pg. 70, Old Papatoetoe, 992; "Mary (Mollie) McKenzie wife of James and mother of Jean died 23 Nov 1963 And Jean died 27.8.69"
13. ↑ Auckland City Council Manukau Memorial Gardens Genealogy Search;

    MCKENZIE, Mary

    Date of Death: Saturday, November 23, 1963

    Block: Papatoetoe Cemetery, 357 Puhinui Road, Papatoetoe

    Lot: ROMAN-PLOT-324

    Date Buried: Monday, November 25, 1963

14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} NZBDM Death Search;

    Registration Number: 1969/32364

    Family Name: McKenzie

    Given Name(s): Jean Marie

    Date of Birth/Age at Death: 46Y

15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Auckland City Council Manukau Memorial Gardens Genealogy Search;

    MCKENZIE, Jean Marie

    Date of Death: Wednesday, August 27, 1969

    Block: Papatoetoe Cemetery, 357 Puhinui Road, Papatoetoe

    Lot: ROMAN-PLOT-324

    Date Buried: Thursday, August 28, 1969

16. ↑ Auckland City Council West burial and cremation records search;

    MCKENZIE, JAMES GIRDWOOD

    Plot: N/A

    Interment Type: Cremation

    Title: MR

    Surname: MCKENZIE

    Given Names: JAMES GIRDWOOD

    Age: 84

    Gender: Male

    Occupation: RTD PUBLIC SERVANT

    Date Of Death: 28-May-1973

    Date Of Cremation: N/A

    Date Of Burial: N/A

    Funeral Director: DILS FUNERAL SERVICES LIMITED

    Head Stone Details: N/A

17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Email from D. Rogers | Customer Services Representative Auckland Cemeteries | Community Services Ph 09 818 5615 | Fax 09 818 8656 Auckland Council, Waikumete Cemetery, 4128a Great North Rd, Glen Eden, Auckland Visit our website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz; Dated: 12 Feb 2017; ..."Please find attached a copy of the genealogy information that we hold for James Girdwood McKenzie. Our records indicate that he was cremated at Waikumete on 29.5.1973 and his ashes were returned to Dil’s Funeral Services on 6.6.1973."
18. ↑ Email 14/Feb/2017, from Eden Standing, Administrator, Dil's Funeral Services Ltd, 185 Schnapper Rock Rd, Albany, Auckland; Info@dils.co.nz;

    ... "James Girdwood McKenzie was cremated at Waikumete cemetery on the 29th of May 1973 and his ashes were returned to Dil’s Funeral Services Ltd on the 6th of June 1973 ... We do not have a record of who collected these ashes from Dil’s Funeral Services Ltd as the process for the collection of ashes was different then to what it is now ... our records show that his ashes were scattered at the Papatoetoe cemetery in the Soldiers Area."

19. ↑ Find A Grave memorial for James Girdwood McKenzie.