{"product_id":"camerons-highlanders-wia-ypres-1914-kia-loos-1915-ww1-victory-medal-achiltibuie","title":"Camerons Highlanders WIA Ypres 1914 KIA Loos 1915 WW1 Victory Medal Achiltibuie","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War Victory Medal – Private Murdoch McKenzie, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal – \u003cb\u003e7777 PTE. M. MC KENZIE. CAM'N HIGHRS.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eReplacement ring on the medal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMurdoch McKenzie was born on \u003cb\u003e9 April 1883\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eBadenscallie, Achiltibuie\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eHector McKenzie\u003c\/b\u003e, a fisherman, and \u003cb\u003eSarah McKenzie (née McLeod)\u003c\/b\u003e. Tragically, his mother died during his birth, meaning Murdoch never knew her. Following his father’s death in \u003cb\u003eJuly 1898\u003c\/b\u003e, Murdoch was raised within an extended family network in the Achiltibuie and Badenscallie area. Census evidence shows that by \u003cb\u003e1901\u003c\/b\u003e he was living at \u003cb\u003eInvernauld, Rosehall, Sutherland\u003c\/b\u003e, working as a \u003cb\u003efarmer’s servant\u003c\/b\u003e, with his birthplace recorded as \u003cb\u003eCoigach\u003c\/b\u003e. Later records give his residence as \u003cb\u003eTanera, Coigach, Inverness-shire\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe enlisted into the \u003cb\u003eQueen’s Own Cameron Highlanders\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eInverness on 17 January 1907\u003c\/b\u003e, aged \u003cb\u003e18\u003c\/b\u003e, embarking on a long period of pre-war regular service. At the outbreak of the Great War he was serving with the \u003cb\u003e1st Battalion\u003c\/b\u003e, and following mobilisation was initially stationed in \u003cb\u003eEdinburgh\u003c\/b\u003e before proceeding overseas. McKenzie \u003cb\u003earrived in France on 5 September 1914\u003c\/b\u003e, joining the \u003cb\u003e1st Brigade, 1st Division\u003c\/b\u003e, placing him among the early British Expeditionary Force — the so-called \u003ci\u003eOld Contemptibles\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWithin weeks of arrival, he was heavily engaged during the \u003cb\u003eFirst Battle of Ypres\u003c\/b\u003e, taking part in the \u003cb\u003edefence of Gheluvelt\u003c\/b\u003e at the end of October 1914. Casualty records confirm that he was \u003cb\u003ewounded on 28 October 1914\u003c\/b\u003e and admitted to the \u003cb\u003e3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth\u003c\/b\u003e, being officially listed as “Sick \u0026amp; Wounded.” He was later entitled to wear a \u003cb\u003eWound Stripe\u003c\/b\u003e, and subsequent sources indicate that he was \u003cb\u003einjured on three separate occasions\u003c\/b\u003e during his service — testimony to the severity of the fighting endured by the battalion during 1914–15.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDespite these wounds, McKenzie returned to duty and remained with the battalion through the following year. In \u003cb\u003eOctober 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, the 1st Camerons were committed to renewed operations in the \u003cb\u003eLoos sector\u003c\/b\u003e, north of Hulluch. War Diary entries for the period detail the battalion moving into the front line on \u003cb\u003e7 October\u003c\/b\u003e, extensive preparation for an assault, and continuous exposure to artillery and machine-gun fire. On \u003cb\u003e13 October 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, the battalion took part in an attack west of \u003cb\u003eHulluch\u003c\/b\u003e, supported by bombardment and gas, suffering extremely heavy casualties. The Camerons briefly found a gap in the German line but were unable to exploit the success before being counter-attacked, losing \u003cb\u003e364 casualties\u003c\/b\u003e, reducing the battalion to just \u003cb\u003e4 officers and around 200 men\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePrivate Murdoch McKenzie was killed in action on 13 October 1915\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e, aged \u003cb\u003e32\u003c\/b\u003e, during this assault. He has \u003cb\u003eno known grave\u003c\/b\u003e and is therefore commemorated on the \u003cb\u003eLoos Memorial\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003ePanels 119 to 124\u003c\/b\u003e. Records note that another Cameron Highlander, \u003cb\u003ePrivate Murdo Mackenzie (7123)\u003c\/b\u003e, died in the same action only days earlier, contributing to later confusion in memorial listings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMurdoch McKenzie is included in local Coigach records due to his family’s residence in the area, despite not appearing on all village memorials. It is also recorded that \u003cb\u003eone of his brothers served in the Royal Navy\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53151066784090,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251025_133519.png?v=1766186092","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/camerons-highlanders-wia-ypres-1914-kia-loos-1915-ww1-victory-medal-achiltibuie","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}