The Raid on Zeebrugge - 23rd April 1918

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Map of Camberwell Cemetery showing the location of Albert's grave

'In the special circumstances of Able Seaman Albert Edward McKenzie's lamentable death and the fact of his being a VC and the first London sailor to receive that most honourable reward, you are authorised to express at the public funeral at St Mark's Camberwell the sympathy of their Majesties with the widowed mother and family. Their majesties were grieved to hear of his untimely death and to think that he had been spared so short a time to wear the proud decoration which he so nobly won.'

Capt Carpenter added his own tribute to Albert's mother; 'The splendid example which your boy set at Zeebrugge will be accorded a high place of honour in the naval records of the British Empire' and Dr Macnamara's closing words were; 'Mrs McKenzie has lost a son but the nation has found a hero'.

Winners of the Victoria Cross are entilted to have the 'For Valour'emblem on their grave stone (1997)

Able Seaman McKenzie's citation reads a follows;-

The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Victoria Cross to Able Seaman Albert Edward McKenzie O.N. J 331736 (Ch) Royal Navy for most conspicuous gallantry.

This rating belonged to B Company of the seaman storming party. On the night of the operation he landed on the Mole with his machine gun in the face of great difficulties and did very good work, using his gun to the utmost advantage. He advance down the Mole with Lt Commander Harrison, who with most of his party was killed, and accounted for several of the enemy running from shelter to a destroyer alongside the Mole. This very gallant seaman was severely wounded whilst working his gun in an exposed position. Able Seaman McKenzie was selected by the seaman of the Vindictive Iris 11 and Daffodil and of the naval assaulting force to receive the Victoria Cross under rule 13 of the Royal Warrant dated 29th January 1856 (London Gazette 22 July 1918).

... Albert is chosen

ALBERT MCKENZIE DIES

Just as the War was coming to an end, Europe experienced the worst 'flu epidemic of modern times. Nearly 20 million people died during this pandemic, most of them following the complication of bacterial pneumonia.

Late in 1918 Albert McKenzie was still recovering from his wounds at Chatham Naval Hospital. Despite developing septic poisoning in his wounded foot his recovery was progressing well.  But he was still vulnerable to infection and when he caught the 'flu he had little resistance; he developed pneumonia and died on 3rd November - one week before the Armistice. His body was taken from Chatham back to London for burial.

After a magnificent funeral service Albert was buried in Camberwell Old Cemetery. The plot for his grave was donated by the local council '... in consideration of the gallant services rendered to his King and Country by Seaman McKenzie VC son of Eliza - By Resolution of Public Services Committee November 1918'.

The Right Honourable T J Macnamara MP Financial Secretary to the Admiralty and Capt Carpenter VC of the Vindictive were present at his funeral and the following message from the King and Queen was read to the mourners; 

Albert's grave in Camberwell Cemetery (1997)

A headstone was placed on his grave on 4 October 1919 unveiled by the Mayor of Southwark with the words; 'Albert McKenzie died nobly; we perpetuate his name;  God bless him!'. The headstone bears his name rank and number and the Victoria Cross  emblem with the words 'For Valour' the only alteration or addition allowed to an official war grave head stone. His name, above the words 'HMS Vindictive April 1918' appears on the Memorial at the Cemetery to the fallen soldiers of  Camberwell. The memorial and his grave are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The Imperial War Museum's records on Albert McKenzie show that '... he was the youngest of a large and patriotic family several of whom bore arms in the war another of them laying down his life. He was the most distinguished member of what was known in South London as the 'St Mark's Little Army' being the 4286 men from the parish of St Mark's Camberwell (the largest number from any ecclesiastical parish in London) who joined the Forces; it gained 81 War Honours and 518 members laid down their lives.

Keyes dies ...