More about William McKenzie

William McKenzie was the son of Mrs Margaret McKenzie of 6 Thorter Row, Dundee and he joined the Royal Naval Reserve at Aberdeen in January 1916. He was drafted to the minesweeping trawler John High which was based at Great Yarmouth. In March, the John High sailed for Murmansk to become part of the North Russia force, based on the old cruiser HMS Iphigenia. William McKenzie was one of fourteen crew killed when the John High was sunk after striking a mine, laid by the German submarine U-75 offshore off Mount Sozonova, in the Barents Sea. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Southsea Common, Hampshire. The Ship’s Log of HMS Iphigenia contains these entries on 7 August 1916. “3.00pm: Received news by Wireless Telegraphy that Trawler John High was blown up by mine 5am off Sozonova. One survivor. 3.15pm: Half masted colours.”