William McKenzie OBE MC OF (1869-1947) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Comm. William "Fighting Mac" McKenzie OBE MC OF

Born 20 Dec 1869 in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Son of Donald McKenzie and Agnes (Callan) McKenzie

Brother of Anne McKenzie, Henrietta (McKenzie) Christensen, Robert McKenzie, James McKenzie, Archibald Nicol McKenzie, Alexander McKenzie, Isabella McKenzie, Archibald McKenzie and Evan McKenzie

Husband of Dorothy Annie (Hoepper) McKenzie — married 21 Jun 1899 in Horsham, Victoria (Australia)

Father of Donald William Booth McKenzie, Colin Campbell McKenzie, Gordon Lindsay McKenzie, Jean Gregor McKenzie and Mavis Hinemoa (McKenzie) Mortimer MB BS

Died 26 Jul 1947 at age 77 in Earlwood, New South Wales, Australia

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Profile last modified 8 Jan 2024 | Created 6 Aug 2019

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1 Biography
2 Sources
3 Further reading

Biography

William 'Fighting Mac' McKenzie

"I had seen so many fine chaps killed … I had buried so many, too ...
that I had to ask myself again and again, is it worthwhile living?"

William McKenzie OBE MC OF is Notable.

Born William McKenzie on 20th December 1869 in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, he was the third of nine children and eldest of six sons of Donald McKenzie, ploughman, and his wife Agnes Callan. ^[1]

William McKenzie OBE MC OF migrated from Scotland to Queensland.

Initially seeking to move to Canada, the family instead migrated to Queensland (Australia) aboard the Merkara; departing London on 23rd September 1884 and arriving at Brisbane on 18th November. They then transferred to the coastal steamer, Lady Musgrave, voyaging to Bundaberg where Donald's brothers Evan and Sandy were already residing. Donald purchased a sugar cane farm near Bundaberg and prospered, employing all his sons and Melanesians as well. McKenzie loved the outdoor life and worked as a jackeroo and on a dairy farm, intending to go on the land. ^[2]

Salvation Army

In 1887, he attended a Salvation Army meeting and found the practical Christianity on display much to his liking. Following study at the training college in Melbourne, McKenzie became a commissioned officer in 1889. McKenzie is quoted as reflecting that "the Salvationist creed meant giving up things—drink, tobacco and much else—and facing scorn and derision … it meant living with the lowest and the worst; it meant fighting with the devil himself for the souls of men … I said to myself "here's the true religion for a fighting man"." Building an influential cereer, in 1914 he was Australian delegate to the World Congress of the Salvation Army in London. ^[2]

On 21st June 1899 in Horsham, Victoria, William married Dorothy Annie Hoepper, a fellow Salvationist. ^[3] By 1911, William and Annie had four children and had settled in Bendigo, Victoria, where William was a Salvation Army Brigadier.

McKenzie saw the war as one in which Allies were fighting:
'... for those principles of righteousness on which the
whole foundation and superstructure of our civilisation is built ...'

Australian Army

William McKenzie OBE MC OF is an Anzac who served in World War One.

On 25th September 1914, soon after the declaration of (the First World) War McKenzie applied to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for chaplaincy immediately and was selected. ^[2] He saw the war as one in which Allies were fighting: "... for those principles of righteousness on which the whole foundation and superstructure of our civilisation is built ..." ^[4] Appointed to the Australian Chaplains Department, ^[5] he was attached to the 4th Australian Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade, ^[6] and sailed aboard HMAT Suffolk A23 on 18th October. ^[7] Arriving at Gallipoli during the wee hours of 25th April 1915, he had to remain on the boat helping doctors attend to wounded men. On 10th May he was one of the first chaplains allowed to disembark and in his first ten days ashore buried approximately 170 men, often while under fire. He lumped stretchers and carried water for months on end as well as tending the wounded and burying the dead. Observing that water carriers had difficulties on part of the track, he spent most of a night cutting out a series of steps. Mac enjoyed the company of all types of Australians and, with a relaxed manner and broad sense of humour, encouraged men to talk freely to him; soon earning the nickname 'Fighting Mac'. He was with the 4th Battalion as they took part in the Battle of Lone Pine in early August 1915. ^[8]

As the 1st Division re-deployed in 1916 to France and Belgium, Mac continued to live in the front line with the troops. He was at Pozières, Bullecourt, Mouquet Farm, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele. With the men he endured that terrible 1916-17 winter on the Somme and tried to help with coffee stalls and other comforts. Mac buried the dead and helped the wounded; he held services in the trenches when possible; he became known for his efforts to uplift the spirits of the men. ^[8] By this time Mac had become famous, both in the AIF and at home. ^[2] Asked why he did what he did, Mac responded, "I went on an untrodden path to help the cause of Jesus Christ, as a simple Salvation Army officer ... determined to do whatever in me lay to help and bless those who were going forth to fight ..." ^[9]

His health shattered, Mac was released from active service, not surprising for a big man of 48. He had been Mentioned in Despatches (equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry) ^[10] and awarded the Military Cross (MC) on 3rd June 1916 for 'distinguished services in the field'; ^[11] and it was rumoured that he had three times been recommended for the Victoria Cross. He had attained the rank of Chaplain 2nd Class, equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel. ^[8] He was farewelled officially from the battalion—a most unusual gesture—returning to Australia 20th January 1918. ^[2] For his service during the war he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Dubbed by some 'the most famous man in the AIF', Mac was prominent in ANZAC Day celebrations in Sydney from 1933. ^[2]

I went on an untrodden path to help the cause of Jesus Christ, as a simple Salvation Army officer ... determined to do whatever in me lay
to help and bless those who were going forth to fight ...

Spiritual warfare abounds

The Salvation Army Long Service Award was conferred upon Mac on 17th October 1919 for 25 years' service. In 1920, he was one of sixteen Salvation Army Officers chosen to be the inaugural recipients of The Order of the Founder (OF).

He resumed Salvation Army work in several States.

In 1926 he took charge of the Salvationists' work in North China, where he spent more than three years and 'lost his heart to the country'. Again, practical Christianity dominated his approach during an appalling four-year drought with millions dying of starvation. Mac returned to Australia with some reluctance in 1930. ^[2]

The Salvation Army promoted him to command of the 'Southern Territory' (Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia), 1930-32, then as Commissioner, commanding the 'Eastern Territory' (New South Wales and Queensland), 1932-39. ^[2] He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1935. ^[12]

Retirement

After his return from the war, Mac continued to have poor health and suffered from nightmares and memory loss. ^[8] The war had profoundly affected him, commenting afterward that "I had seen so many fine chaps killed … I had buried so many, too ... that I had to ask myself again and again, is it worthwhile living?" ^[2]

William and Annie resided in the Sydney suburb of Earlwood from 1938, and he formally retired from active ministry on 1st March 1939. ^[8]

He passed away on 26th July 1947 in Earlwood, New South Wales, and was buried in Rookwood Cemetery. ^[13]