Son of Louis McKechnie and Sarah Ann McKechnie.

Louis is described as the financial mainstay of his family and the family felt his death keenly. Louis senior, his father died a short time later and his mother successfully applied for a pension of 26 pounds per annum.

His medal is held by Hawkes Bay Museum. Before World War I, enteric fever, or typhoid fever, was the scourge of armies, and in the Anglo-Boer War killed more soldiers than enemy action. It is caused by a bacteria entering the body via contaminated food or water. Early symptoms include high fever, headaches and lassitude. Follicles along the intestinal walls later become inflamed, often leading to perforation and hemorrhaging. Other complications include gall bladder, pneumonia or heart failure.

At the time of the Boer War, there were no antibiotic remedies for the disease.

Father was named Louis Mckechnie. AWMM