Name/Title
1918 - WWI RAF Flight log named to CGG 177777 Private (Late Lieutenant) John Vernon McKenzie, 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEFScope and Content
*** Archive purposes only - not part of CGG Museum artifact collection***
1918 - WWI RAF Flight log named to CGG 177777 Private (Late Lieutenant) John Vernon McKenzie, 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF
ABOUT THE CGG SOLDIER
Not all of those who served with the 160th were Bruce County men. John 'Vernon' McKenzie was born on September 11, 1887 in New York City to Canadian parents living abroad. At 27, he was working as a Newspaperman when he enlisted as a Private with the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) in Montreal with the Regimental #177777 on September 7, 1915. Two months later, on November 5, 1915, he married Edna Isabelle Chapman of London, Ontario in Toronto.
The following year, he was attached to the 4th University Overseas Training Company at the U of T with Regimental #475256. He was discharged on June 1, 1916 to take a commission with the 118th Battalion. He signed his Officer's Declaration at Camp Bordon on July 12, 1916.
Now a Lieutenant, Vernon sailed on the Empress of Britain from Halifax on January 28 arriving in Liverpool on February 6, 1917. He as taken on strength with the 25th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott the following day. On March 13, 1917, he was transferred to the 160th Bruce Battalion at Witley. Two weeks after this transferred, he contracted Bronchitis and was off duty for 12 days. He served with the 160th until August 4, 1917 when he was transferred to the Western Ontario Regiment Depot on Command to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).
Lieut. McKenzie was wounded on October 31, 1918 and transferred to London. Following his convalescence, he returned to the RFC on November 12, 1918, one day following the armistice. He would continue to be seconded to the RFC, later the Royal Air Force, until May 31, 1919. He was discharged due to demobilization on June 17, 1919.
Following the war, Vernon is recorded as being at the School of Journalism at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1934. He also attended Harvard University at some point and became a Professor and a Dean. At age 54, he served the US Army during the Second World War.
Dr. Vernon McKenzie died while on vacation in Rome on November 11, 1963 at 76 years of age. He is buried in Seattle, Washington.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
September 30, 2026Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
September 30, 2026