On the Gosport Submariners Plaque is the name of P/MX 57125 Chief Engine Room Artificer John Laybourne McKenzie, serving on HMS Affray with the Royal Navy who died 16/04/1951.

John Laybourne McKenzie was born on the 14th December 1912 in Jarrow, Durham.  He was the second son of three children to William McKenzie, born April 1885, baptised 30th April 1885,  died October 1920,  and Euphemia nee Firth, born Swalwell, January 1887, died 28th November 1915 at the Palmer Memorial Hospital. [She was the daughter of  Charles Firth, born 1840, died 1922 and Sarah nee Clark, born 1854, died 1922]. William and Euphemia were married in 1910.

The other children were:-

• Charles Firth McKenzie, born 26th December 1910, died July 1974.
• Francis McKenzie, born April 1915, died June 1915.

In 1891 William was residing at Spencer Street, Jarrow and in 1901 at 24 Spencer Street.  By 1911, they were residing at 1 James Street Jarrow. William was employed as a Shipyard Driller Hand in Jarrow. Euphemia Firth was residing at 29 James Street, Jarrow, Durham until 1901 when she was residing at 1 James Street, Jarrow.

John Laybourne McKenzie was an apprentice Boilermaker.

John Laybourne McKenzie married Maisie Millicent Mary Harris, (born 10th October 1916, died  17th January 1990), daughter of Noel Owen Harris and Mabel Mary Roberts on the 19th June 1940 at St Mary’s, Portsmouth. They had two children.

• John Owen Roberts McKenzie, born 10th April 1942 at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, residing at 53 Mayfield Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire.
• Anthony Firth McKenzie, born 31st May 1945, Portsmouth, died 18th March 2019, He married  Rita Marylin McKenzie in January 1966, born 23rd September 1946, died in May 1977, they had two children.

Maisie worked as a Shop assistant in a Drapery Store in Portsmouth. She also owned some property in Winchester, Hampshire. In 1939 she was residing at 63 St Georges Square, Portsmouth, Hampshire, by 1989 she was residing at 6 Green Lane, Copnor, Hampshire.

John Laybourne McKenzie enlisted on the 5th September 1933 for 12 years. He served in the military in Gironde, Aquitaine, France, on the 7th December 1940. On patrol on HMS Thunderbolt. He served in the military in London, England, on the 20th December 1945. he was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal – Chief Engine Room Artificer John Laybourne McKenzie, MX 57125. John Laybourne died in HMS Affray, Hurd Deep, English Channel, on 16th April 1951, at the age of 38.

HMS Affray a British Amphion-class submarine was built in the closing stages of the Second World War. She was one of 16 submarines of her class which were originally designed for use in the Pacific Ocean against Japan. Affray was the last Royal Navy submarine to be lost at sea, on 16th April 1951, with the loss of 75 lives including 4 members of the SBS.

Acknowledgments: John Dickinson; Admiralty Records: Naval Disclosure Records; National Archives; The British Newspaper Archive;

John Laybourne McKenzie is remembered  in our List of Ships’ Crews.