DOUDS Alexander (alias Alexander MacKENZIE)

Alexander MacKenzie was born Alexander Dowds/Douds. He was the third child of Alexander Douds and Johanna Bower. He was a man of 28 years and 2 months when he enlisted for the Great War on 07 July 1915 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His occupation was a labourer. He was described as 5 feet 11 ½ inches (182cm) tall. He weighed 173 pounds (78.5kg) and had a fresh complexion with blue eyes and black hair. Alexander noted his religion as Presbyterian. He was a single man and listed his mother, who lived at 51 Harold St, Thornbury, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at the time, as his next of kin.

Alexander DOUDS enlisted as Alexander Mackenzie. He was a timbergetter in 1913 at Benarkin just out the back of the coast. The forestry areas all link out the back of Kenilworth - Jimna area. Alex Douds had a brother John working with him at Benarkin.

On 05 October 1915, Private Alexander MacKenzie of 9 Battalion boarded HMAT “Warilda” at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was admitted to No. 1 Auxilliary Hospital, Cairo with catarrh. By January 1916, Alexander had taken on strength of 9 Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir. At the end of February, he was transferred to 49 Battalion.

On 03 September 1916, Alexander was wounded in action in France. He embarked H.S. “Antwerpen” at Calais for England almost a week later. By this time, he already had his left arm amputated. Alexander spent many months in hospital, sometimes being moved around to different hospital. Unfortunately, this didn’t stop him from catching gonorrhoea. It was during his time in hospital that he must have told someone his real name. Alexander then had to prove who he was with statutory declarations and birth certificate. Reading through his service records, he never explained why he enlisted under an alias.

Alexander embarked England on 03 July 1917 aboard H.S. “Karoola”. He disembarked Sydney, New South Wales on 29 August 1917. On 28 September 1917, Alexander was discharged from the A.I.F.

Alexander married Winifred Annie Baynton known as Beecham on 04 August 1920 at Brisbane Queensland Australia. They had at least two sons Douglas (died in WW2) and Alan.

Alexander's brother John Patrick DOUDS S/No. 6751 was wounded in action 26 September 1917 and died of wounds 14 October 1917. He was buried at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.

• Egypt
• France
• France
• France

Obi Obi Honour Board, originally located in the Obi Obi Hall;

Kenilworth and District Honour Board, Kenilworth Community Hall.