McKENZIE, Louis Evander DSO (1885-1954)Louis Evander McKenzie was born on 11 November 1885, the son of George McKenzie and Martha Ekin nee Williams. He was educated at Geelong College entering the School in 1898 where he served in the Geelong College Cadets.
He held a Diploma of Veterinary Science from Berlin University, and also studied Veterinary Science at Berne University of Switzerland before registering as a Veterinary Surgeon in Victoria prior to the outbreak of World War I.
During World War I, he enlisted in the AIF, and embarked on 19 October 1914, aboard
HMAT A18 Wiltshire for Egypt as Veterinary Officer with Regimental Headquarters, Australian Army Veterinary Corps, 4th Light Horse Brigade.
Louis Mckenzie was awarded the Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, gazetted 1 January 1918, the citation read:
'As O.C. Mobile Veterinary Section he has rendered yeoman’s service from the 26th February to 26th September 1917. During the bad weather at the end of the last winter and in the early spring of this year he established temporary rest hospitals and by his unremitting care and personal attention he saved many horses and mules from being evacuated. His veterinary work has always been most satisfactory, and the administration of his unit has been excellent.' He was three times Mentioned in Despatches, gazetted 1 June 1917 (General Sir Archibald Murray), 28 December 1917, and 11 July 1919 (Sir Douglas Haig). He rose to the rank of Major during the war.
Louis Evander McKenzie died on 27 June 1954, aged 68, and was buried at the Barrabool Hills Cemetery in Highton.
His brothers, Colin Ernest McKenzie (1884-1959, Andrew Norman McKenzie (1889-1962), George Houston McKenzie (1890-1965) and
Kenneth Allan McKenzie DSO (1893-1948), were also educated at Geelong College.
Jill, Duchess of Hamilton, wrote of the Memorial to the magnificent horses left behind in Palestine in
First to Damascus:
'A rare memorial to these horses is a plaque outside the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney – a long, bronze relief of three horses, heads hanging low, ammunition pouches around their necks, being led over sand dunes.' 'ERECTED BY MEMBERS OF THE DESERT MOUNTED CORPS AND FRIENDS OF THE GALLANT HORSES WHO CARRIED THEM OVER THE SINAI DESERT INTO PALESTINE 1915-1918.
THEY SUFFERED WOUNDS, THIRST, HUNGER AND WEARINESS ALMOST BEYOND ENDURANCE BUT NEVER FAILED. THEY DID NOT COME HOME.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET THEM' Sources: Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 254-5 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives)