Colin John Mackenzie

Colin John Mackenzie was the eldest son of Major-General Colin Mackenzie. He was commissioned in the Bedfordshire Regiment (then the 16th Foot) in January 1881, but transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders the following May. His pre-war career reads like a litany of late Victorian imperial military history: Egypt (1882); Burma (1886); Hazara (1888); Gilgit (1890–1); Waziristan (1894–5); the Nile (1898); South Africa (1899–1902). This record of active service left little time for anything else. Mackenzie entered Staff College late and over the normal age limit of 35. He was a full colonel when he graduated in December 1899. After the South African War his career took the staff path. He was AQMG 5th Division (1902–5) and AAG Army HQ (June 1905–February 1907). He was appointed GOC 4th Brigade in March 1907 without ever having commanded a battalion. He later commanded 6th Brigade. From 1910 until 1913 he was Chief of the General Staff, Canada.

On 3 March 1914 he became the first commander of the Highland Division TF. In October 1914, however, he was sent to the Western Front to take command of 3rd Division following the death in action of Major-General Hubert Hamilton. He was 53. Mackenzie’s command was short lived. He was ‘invalided’ home after only a fortnight. In reality he was sacked. Billy Congreve recorded Mackenzie’s going in his diary with his customary perspicacity:

‘General Mackenzie went home this morning; I presume owing to the mess made of the attack [at La Bassée] … Mackenzie was, I thought not of great merit, though very nice to me. He was not physically fit.’[1]

Such a thorough degumming would normally mark the end of a commander’s military career, but not in Mackenzie’s case. After a period as GOC 15th (Scottish) Division (1914-5) at home, he became Director of Staff Duties at the War Office (1915–6) before returning to the Western Front as GOC 61st (2nd South Midland) Division in May 1916.

He commanded this second line Territorial division until 27 April 1918 when he was wounded in the cheek by a German sniper while visiting the line held by 183rd Brigade. The wound was slow to respond to treatment and he was eventually evacuated to England. Following his recovery, Mackenzie became Inspector of Infantry on the Home establishment.

Major-General Sir Colin Mackenzie retired on 1 April 1920.

References:

[1] Billy Congreve, Armageddon Road. The Diaries of Billy Congreve (London: William Kimber, 1982), p.71.