Richard Francis McKenzie

Richard was born on October 13 1883, the third of eight children of Richard Evans and Elizabeth Constance (nee Evans) McKenzie, at Corryong. On October 6 1909, Richard married Margaret (Maggie) Christian at St Jude’s Church of England in Tumbarumba, NSW. The couple would raise a large family in Thowlga, with Richard gaining employment in the area. In 1914, their eldest child, Kathleen, died of diphtheria at age 2 and was buried in Corryong. By the 1950s, the couple were living on Wheeler Street in the township of Corryong.

On March 15 1916, Richard enlisted at Tallangatta. He was allocated Service Number 10315 and placed in the 10th Field Company Engineers as a Sapper. Richard embarked at Melbourne on HMAT A54 Runic on June 20 1916 and arrived at Plymouth, England on August 8 of that year.

In late September 1916, Richard was detached from the 10th Field Company to the Codford School of Cookery, in Wiltshire. During this time he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On November 23, he departed England for France. For the first half of April 1917, Richard was at the 9th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from scabies. Upon returning to his unit after two weeks' leave, he was admitted to the 39th General Hospital. He would remain there for a little over five weeks. 

There were three time periods where Richard was in active service with his unit in France. The first was December 1916 through to April 1917. The second was May 1917 to January 1918. During this time, in June 1917, the company was engaged in constructing roads, railways and bridges over the Douve River in preparation for the Messines Ridge offensive. The third was between June 1918 and October 1918. During this period, they built and guarded strategic bridges in support of the August Allied offensive. 

In late October 1918, he became sick with influenza. He would eventually be evacuated to England and admitted to the Grayingwell War Hospital in Chichester. Richard did not fully recover from his bout of influenza, and so it was decided to invalided him home to Australia. He embarked on the HT Port Denison on March 25 1919, and returned to Australia. His discharge came through on June 24 1919. For his service during the war, he was awarded the British Medal and the Victory Medal.

Upon returning from overseas, Richard successfully applied for a block of approximately 20 acres of land under the Soldier Settlement Scheme. The Inspector's report stated:

“I consider this property is very suitable for soldier settlement, I am informed that Mr McKenzie’s son is applying for this, should it be accepted. I might mention it should suit him immensely, as there is only a chain road between this property and Mr McKenzie's son, and they could help each other, besides, they have thrashed etc, which they work in conjunction. Knowing the place thoroughly what stock it has carried and the condition of the same, and the crops it has grown, I have no hesitation in recommending if for Soldier settlement for any soldier who is adaptable for farming.”

Richard passed away at Corryong on August 8 1964, and was buried in the Corryong Cemetery. Maggie would continue to live at Wheeler Street until her death on June 27 1974. She too would be laid to rest at the Corryong Cemetery.