Walter McKenzie was born in Point Edward, Ontario, on April 28, 1891, the only son of Thomas McKenzie (of Ireland, a locomotive engineer) and Alice Emily (nee Wake) McKenzie. The McKenzie family was originally from Sarnia and would later reside in Toronto. Walters had one sister, Frances Alice (born 1896). After receiving an education in Sarnia public schools, Walter then attended Parkdale Collegiate, Toronto, and University of Toronto Medicine (1909-14). He would become Vice President, Medical Society, Staff, of the Hamilton Asylum. On September 8, 1915, while living in Toronto, he enlisted (completing the Officers’ Declaration Form) in Niagara with the 83rd Overseas Battalion. At the time he listed his occupation as a physician and that he was single. In August 1915, he was appointed Medical Officer to the 83rd Battalion which went overseas in April 1916. Walter became a Captain in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. In October of 1916, he was transferred to Shorncliffe Military Hospital, where he attended to the wounded. Four months later, while on duty, he took ill on February 17th, 1917 with cerebrospinal meningitis to which he succumbed after two days. Walter would later be officially listed as, Died. (Epilepsy) Helena Officers Hospital, Shorncliffe. Twenty-five year old Walter McKenzie is buried in Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, Kent, United Kingdom, Grave M.506. On Walter McKenzie’s headstone are inscribed the words, His name liveth forever.
SOURCES: C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G