William McKenzie

Ploegsteert Memorial. Authors image

3/6880 Private

2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 19th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division

Age: 28

Date of Death: 10.11.14

Buried: Ploegsteert Memorial Panel 9 & 10

Family: Son of William McKenzie, 89 Grangeview Terrace, Falkirk. William was serving as a regular soldier.

The action leading to his death

The Battalion was in the line at Ploegsteert Wood. On the morning of the 9th November they were advised that they would be attacking the German lines on 10 November. A & D Company’s were between St Yves and the Le Gheer road and the edge of the wood, behind the Lancashire Fusiliers trench and began the advance. ‘D’ Company objective was the North West angle of quadrangle C. After arriving at a burning house Captain W A Henderson (officer commanding ‘D’ Coy) gave the order to charge but was hit and fell. ‘D’ Company then lost direction and with ‘A’ Company attacked quadrangle B. Lieutenant Clark with half of ‘B’ Company was in support of ‘D’ Company and when the attack failed he collected men from ‘A’ and ‘D’ and with his half company led them round the burning house and again tried to attack the trenches about B. The attack failed and they retired to trenches evacuated by ‘A’ Company. The Battalion was ordered to take up a position in the support trenches in the wood. Of the 330 men engaged the casualties were 3 officers missing, 1 officer wounded, other ranks 10 killed, 71 wounded, and 45 missing.

Sketch map of the area of the attack. Battalion War Diary

He would have known Private Neil McCulloch from Falkirk and Private John Reilly from Bonnybridge who served in the same battalion and died in the same action.

Medals Awarded:

1914 Star & Clasp, The British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Medal Index Card. Private William McKenzie