George Waltham MacKenzie was born 24 May 1916 in New Plymouth, the son of William James and Mary Marie MacKenzie (nee Rudd). He was the eldest of five children.
After leaving New Plymouth Boy's High School he served his apprenticeship as a plumber and was then employed by the New Plymouth Borough Council until he enlisted.
In 1941 he sailed to the Middle East with the Fourth Reinforcements where he was posted to the 22nd Battalion. He took part in the severe fighting in Cyrenaica and in the Western Desert during 1941 and 1942.
He was fatally wounded on 15 July 1942 in the Western Desert, North Africa, as the German Army was making its last major push towards Egypt. His body was not recovered. His name is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.
It appears he was initially reported as missing in July 1942 and not confirmed as having died of his wounds until March 1945, no doubt a terrible ordeal for his family.
Books
Lest We Forget, Jack West p.248
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
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