A Great War 1918 ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 D. McKenzie, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, who died of wounds on 7 November 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (423374 C.S. Mjr. D. McKenzie, 2/Can. M.R.); British War and Victory Medals (423374 W.O. Cl. 2 D. McKenzie, 2-C.M.R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (423374 C.S. Mjr. D. McKenzie, 2/Can. Mtd. Rif.), together with the recipient’s brass identity disc, inscribed ‘D. McKenzie, C.S.M., 423374, 2. C.M.R. P.’, mounted for wear, cleaned, generally very fine (4) £1,400-£1,800

Dix Noonan Webb, June 2012.

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 January 1919:

‘During the attack on Le Quesnoy on 10 August 1918, he acted with great judgment, coolness and courage. When his Company Commander was wounded he carried him under cover and had his wounds dressed. He then took charge of and re-organised part of the Company and carried on with the advance. When the advance was held up by enemy machine-gun fire, he took a party round and rushed the post, killing the garrison and capturing the ground. His work throughout greatly contributed to the success of the operation.’

M.S.M. London Gazette 17 June 1918.

David McKenzie, who was born in Tain, Ross-shire, Scotland, in October 1882, enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, in February 1915. He embarked for France in February 1916, where he joined the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, he gained rapid promotion, the Meritorious Service Medal in June 1918, and his D.C.M. for the above cited deeds at La Quesnoy that August.

Warrant Officer Class 2 McKenzie died of wounds within days of the Armistice, on 7 November 1918. He is buried in Quievrain Communal Cemetery, Hainaut, Beglium.

Sold with the recipient’s original unit commendation card for the Le Quesnoy action in August 1918, part torn and worn; together with copied service record.