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.
I have identified two possible
medal index cards for this man: 2522 (later 240379) and 4851 (later 241391). Number 2522 would have been issued around
the beginning of January 1910, whereas 4851 would not have been issued until the end of March or beginning of April 1916. Both
men are therefore possibilities for the Chailey Angus McKenzie but unfortunately, the service records for neither man
survive.
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
