Private Angus McKenzie was a patient
at Beechland House in 1917. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:
20/4/1917
Pte Angus McKenzie
1/5th Seaforth Highlanders
Wounded at Beau-mount Hammel on October 21st 1916
He shares this page with
entries from Corporal W R D F Reynolds of the 3rd Royal Fusiliers, 801298 Gunner John William Thurgood of the Royal Field Artillery, 21/1522 Private Charles Edward Harrald of the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers and 21370 Lance-Corporal John William Williams of the 24/27th Northumberland Fusiliers.
Little is known about this man
other than that his wound was serious enough to keep him in hospital for at least six months.
The 51st Division (to which the 1/5th Seaforth Highlanders belonged), captured Beaumont Hamel
in November 1916 but by then Private McKenzie was almost certainly in a hospital bed in England.
In February 1917, patients at Beechland
House staged a pantomime – Beauty and The Beast – and a Private McKenzie is noted in the cast list as playing the role of a highlander.
This is almost certainly Angus McKenzie.
Sources and Acknowledgements
