SENIOR CHAPLAIN WITH FORCES

Southland Times, Issue 24112, 29 April 1940, Page 6

SENIOR CHAPLAIN WITH FORCES

Rev. J. W. McKenzie EARLY LIFE SPENT IN INVERCARGILL

The Rev. J. W. McKenzie, minister of the Epsom Presbyterian Church, Auckland, who has been appointed senior chaplain of the Presbyterian Church with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, lived in Invercargill in his youth. He took his studies at the Otago University, where he graduated 8.A., and at the Presbyterian Theological Hall. He was a prominent Rugby footballer in his younger days, playing at one time with the Southland country representative team, and later for four years at Stratford. As a frack runner he had a successful record in mile and half-mile events.

Mr McKenzie’s first charge was at Stratford, and afterwards he was for a number of years at Port Chalmers before being called to Epsom. He has always taken a prominent part in the youth activities of his church, and is convener of the youth committee of the Auckland Presbytery. He expects to join up and leave with the 3rd Echelon. Mr McKenzie gave distinguished service in the Great War, where he served as a stretcher bearer with the New Zealand Field Ambulance, and was awarded the Military Medal for courage and daring at Passchendaele. Later the award of the Efficiency Decoration was made to him for his work with the forces in peacetime.