The AIF Project

John CAMPBELL

Regimental number2545
True NameMcKENZIE, Kenneth Gordon
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationFarm labourer
AddressTallarook PO, Tallarook, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 5"
Weight150 lbs
Next of kinFather, Mrs A Hawkins, 108 Erskineville Road, Erskineville, New South Wales
Enlistment date12 August 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name17th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/34/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 5 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll17th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in assisting wounded; also did excellent work on patrols.
Recommendation date: 5 March 1917

FateReturned to Australia 3 July 1917
Discharge date22 February 1918
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 March 1916.

Wounded in action, 31 July 1916 (gun shot wound, left arm), and admitted to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to 32nd Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, 2 August 1916; to England, 3 August 1916, and admitted to 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, 4 August 1916; discharged on furlough, 14 September 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, and marched in to Base Depot, Etaples, 12 December 1916.

Found guilty, 13 December 1916, of stowing away on a draft to France: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Rejoined Bn, in the field, 10 January 1917.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 2 March 1917 (gun shot wound, left leg), and admitted to 45th Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, 5 March 1917; to England, 8 April 1917, and admitted to Military Hospital, Fulham (wound: severe); transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 14 June 1917.

By sworn Declaration assumed true name of Kenneth Gordon McKENZIE, 30 June 1917.

Commenced return to Australia on board HS 'Karoola', 3 July 1917; discharged, Melbourne, 22 February 1918 (medically unfit).

CAMPBELL/McKENZIE wrote from No 11 Australian General Hospital, Caulfield, to District Paymaster, 2nd Military District, Sydney, 9 September 1917: 'Am writing as instructed with regard to my allotment. Sometime ago my allotment was stopped owing to it being altered from Mrs. A. Hawkins of No. 3, John Street, Erskinville, to Mrs. E. McKenzie of no. 12 Coote street, South Melbourne, Victoria. Well Sir, I do not wish you to pay anyone, not even to Mrs. E. McKenzie or anyone else. The reason I must tell you. Just before I arrived home my mother deserted my father, at the same time robbing him of everything he had, and leaving him badly in debt. She even went so far as to tell my fatgher that she was going to draw all my back allotment money, so I thought I would write to you to try and stop her from doing so, and at the same time to try and get it so as to get my father out of debt, so if you could do this you would do my father a good turn.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNOK subsequently listed as mother, Mrs Mary McKENZIE, 12 Coote Street, South Melbourne, Victoria.
SourcesNAA: B2455, CAMPBELL John

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