The Gillingham Park Fete Tragedy
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Private David Murdock MacKenzie
Canadian Infantry, Central Ontario Regiment
8th (reserve) Bn
Cheesman family

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Birth: Nov. 5, 1896
Ontario, Canada
Death: Aug. 23, 1918 
Aldershot, England
Buried: originally Aldershot Cemetery, but later returned home and is buried in the Fairvalley Methodist Cemetery in Canada.

Casualty of the Great War David McKenzie was the son of Murdock McKenzie and his wife Margaret Calderwood. David was a Private with the Canadian Infantry, Central Ontario Regiment, 8th (Reserve) Bn. David had enlisted in March of 1918 and at that time he was listed as single with no dependents. His father Murdock was given as his next of kin. June 16, after a short training in Canada, David was sent to Aldershot where two days later he was taken ill with Spinal Meningitis. He died shortly after. His brother Pvt Charles MacKenzie had arrived in England shortly before David's death and would be present at his funeral.

David lived his whole life in Fairvalley, Ontario. His siblings included Jenny (Flora Jane),Sara Christina, Charley (Chas), Peter, Mary, Pearl and Margaret. His mother had died in 1901 in childbirth. The baby also died.

David and his brother Charles had been joint owners of their grandfather Peter Calderwood's farm. Charles also died after contracting TB in the trenches in WW1. Charles did return home before his death but was in England at the time of his brother`s death and did attend his funeral. Charles himself had been married on May 25 1918 but was unable to have children after his return from the war. He died in Canada.


 Find-a-grave memorial



David's obit in the Orillia Packet and Times
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David's grave in the Fairvalley Cemetery, Ontario
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The MacKenzie Family taken c1914
Standing from Left is  Flora Jane (Jenn - wife of John George Elder), David, Chas Duncan (Charlie - He died as a result of TB he contracted fighting in WW1), Margarert (Marge -Walter Grey's wife). Front row is Christina (Teenie - wife of Henry Stanley Read), Peter, Pearl (wife of Jim Vosborough), Murdock Calfburn (his wife Margaret Templeton Calderwood had died 1901 in childbirth, the child also died) and Marye Beatrice (Mrs. Edward Sheehey)
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David's Parents taken before 1901

Murdock Calfburn MacKenzie & Margaret Templeton Calderwood
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The gates of the Fairvalley Methodist Cemetery were commissioned by Pearl Vosberg (nee McKenzie), sister of David's
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David is the Great Uncle of Lori Oschefski, creator of this web site

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