People Australia

Kenneth McKie, c.1915

Australian War Memorial, P06959-001

Kenneth Clinton McKie, son of Mr. Robert and Mrs. Maria McKie, was born at South Brisbane on 15th December, 1889. He was educated at the Woolloongabba and East Brisbane State Schools, and later at the Brisbane Grammar School.

He joined the service of the Bank at Warwick on 23rd July, 1906, and his subsequent transfers were to Roma in May, 1910; Longreach in October, 1911; and Brisbane in May, 1913.

Enlisting in October, 1915, he quickly reached the ranks of corporal and sergeant, and entered the School of Instruction at Enoggera, where he gained his commission as second-lieutenant, and left with the 4th Reinforcements of the 49th Battalion on 16th August, 1916. He fell ill soon after reaching England, and having spent several weeks in hospital, did not reach France until the first week in March, 1917.

He was soon in the firing line, and served continuously till the Battle of Messines Ridge. On the morning of 7th June the Canadians had attacked early and the Australians were to go over at 3 p.m. In the meantime enemy snipers were very active, and Lieutenant McKie, anxious lest the morale of the men should be affected, went over the top and located four snipers in a shell-hole. Disregarding his own safety he exposed himself almost to the waist and shot three. He was wounded by the fourth. The Australians went over about an hour later, but Lieutenant McKie died of the wounds he had received.