- John Mackenzie (VC)
John Mackenzie VC DCM (November, 1869
Contin ,Ross-shire –17 May ,1915 ) was a Scottish recipient of theVictoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Details
He was 29 years old, and a
sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, TheSeaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, Duke of Albany's),British Army , employed West African Field Force during theThird Ashanti Expedition when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.On
6 June 1900 atDompoassi ,Ashanti (now Ghana), Sergeant Mackenzie, after working two Maxim guns under heavy fire and being wounded while doing so, volunteered to clear the stockade of the enemy. This he did, most gallantly, leading the charge himself and driving the enemy headlong into the bush.Further information
John Mackenzie was commissioned as
Second Lieutenant in theBlack Watch in 1900 and became aCaptain in theRoyal Scots on22 January 1904 . During this time he also served on attachment with theNorthern Nigeria Regiment . His pipe banner is located in the Museum atEdinburgh Castle . He wasmentioned in dispatches for his work during theAro Expedition ; also in 1906 when he was staff officer of theMunster Field Force and once more during theKano-Sokoto Expedition . He was promoted toMajor duringWorld War I and was Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion of theBedfordshire Regiment , where atFestubert in theBattle of Loos , on17 May 1915 , when leading his men, he was killed just after he had left the jumping off trench.Major Mackenzie is buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, in Northern France
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the
Regimental Museum of Queens Own Highlanders , Fort George, Inverness-shire, Scotland.References
*
Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)External links
* [http://www.qohldrs.co.uk/html/sgt_john_mackenzie_vc.htm Profile with photograph]
Persondata
NAME=Mackenzie, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Victoria Cross recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=November, 1869
PLACE OF BIRTH=Contin,Ross-shire ,Scotland
DATE OF DEATH=17 May ,1915
PLACE OF DEATH=Battle of Loos ,France
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.