Remembrance Day 11.11.2017 at Thirroul

Descendants of Angus McKenzie’s children, Alexander McKenzie Snr, Alexander McKenzie Jnr, Neil McKenzie and Mary McKinnon nee McKenzie, have served in Australian, New Zealand and British units in various military conflicts since the Boer War, and some have lost their lives as a result of military service – McKenzie Military page and Roll of Honour. 

The Thirroul RSL Memorial Wall was re-dedicated today at the 2017 Austinmer Thirroul Sub Branch Remembrance Day Service, which was conducted by the Sub Branch President Major General (ret’d) Hori Howard and was attended by Wollongong City Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery.  There were all new plaques placed on the wall to replace the original one’s – including plaques for

• Captain George Hicks – WW1 – 3rd son of Mary Ann Hicks nee McKenzie
• Captain Harry Hicks – WW1 – 4th son of Mary Ann Hicks nee McKenzie
• Navy Sailor Ken Joy – WW1 – only son of Edith Joy, daughter of Mary Ann Hicks nee McKenzie
• Private Ross Adams – WW2 – husband of Joan Adams, granddaughter of Edith Joy, daughter of Mary Ann Hicks nee McKenzie

We had three generations of McKenzie – Hicks family branch present – descendants of Harry, Ken and Ross at the Service – unfortunately Maureen, great granddaughter of George was overseas and unable to join us.

The Memorial Wall rededication at today’s service was the first time that George has been able to be recognised by the Sub Branch – he was a Thirroul resident when he went away to the Boer War – which pre-dated the establishment of the Thirroul Sub Branch. It appears that he was the only Thirroul/ Austinmer resident to serve in the Boer War. After he returned, George became the Instructional Officer for the Thirroul Bulli area, before being transferred up north to Murwillumbah. It was from there that he went with the 5th Light Horse to Gallipoli and then Palestine. Thus George’s WW1 service is recognised in a northern NSW sub branch. After WW1 he continued to serve for about another decade at Murwillumbah, Lismore and finally at Grafton, when he finally retired from his long military career.

Younger brother Harry became an Instructional Officer for the Thirroul Bulli area, after older brother George had gone north. Harry and his nephew Ken are recognised on the original 1922 WW1 monument’s list of names. There had been a plaque for Ross, on the Memorial Wall unveiled in the 1990’s. And now we have George with them as well. A big thank you to Hori Howard who helped with this !

Lest We Forget.