Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 4 ’
A good Great War ‘French theatre’ D.S.O., O.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. M. Mackenzie, 13th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Kensingtons), who having served with the 1/13th, commanded 2/13th with distinction in France, Salonika, Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine, February 1916 - April 1918…. ‘Puffing at a cigarette and carelessly swinging his walking-stick, Colonel Mackenzie moved about nonchalantly, making a few joking remarks here and there, and glancing ever and anon at his watch… The Colonel’s whistle was in his mouth; the shrill blast followed by his “Kensingtons - Advance!” and with his walking-stick waving high in the air, he was up the bank in front, leading the Battalion forward
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, hallmarks for London ‘1919’; 1914-15 Star (Capt. C. M. Mackenzie, 13/Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Lt. Col. C. M. Mackenzie.) mounted as originally worn, generally good very fine (5)
£1,600-£2,000
D.S.O. London Gazette 4 January 1917. O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919. M.I.D. London Gazette 13 November 1916.
Colin Mansfield Mackenzie was the son of Major C. Mackenzie, and was born in 1876. He was educated at Clifton College and King’s College, Cambridge. Mackenzie was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders in December 1899, and advanced to Lieutenant in the December of the following year. He was posted with the 1st Battalion to India in 1902, advanced to Captain in June 1905, and resigned his commission in April the following year.
Mackenzie re-engaged for service during the Great War with the 1/13th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Kensingtons) in November 1914. The Battalion were sent to France in December 1914, and saw action at Neuve Chapelle and Aubers Ridge where they were almost decimated. Afterwards the Battalion was employed on line of communication duties, and now a Major, Mackenzie was posted back to join the 3/13th Battalion in the UK during the Spring of 1915.
Mackenzie was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and appointed to the command of the 2/13th Battalion in February 1916:‘The Command of the Battalion was taken over by Lieut.-Colonel C. M. Mackenzie, D.S.O., O.B.E., a first Battalion officer who had returned from France. With his quiet voice and meditative habits he appeared the very antithesis of the late Commanding Officer, but the Battalion quickly sensed in him the qualities of a soldier, and he became popular in a very short space of time. The 2/13th was certainly fortunate in the choice of Commanding Officers.’ (The “Kensingtons” 13th London Regiment refers)
The Battalion served as part of the 60th London Division in France, June - November 1916, and in Salonika and Macedonia, January - June 1917. It was finally sent to Egypt and Palestine, and it was here that the Battalion saw most of its’ active service. Including the attack on the Kauwukah and Rushdi defensive systems as part of the Battle of Hareira and Sheria, 6-7 November 1917: ‘Lieut.-Colonel Mackenzie attended a Brigadiers’ conference and came back with operation orders for Kauwukah. The following day accompanied by his senior officers, he rode forward for a preliminary reconnaissance. No approach could be made to the positions themselves, and little was to be seen, but valuable information was obtained regarding the ground to be covered in the initial advance… It proved a most uncomfortable time, but the advance was resumed very steadily when ordered and another 200 or 300 yards brought them to a slight declivity some 600 yards from the Turkish line, where a pause ensured until the moment for the final assault arrived. Lieut.-Colonel Mackenzie, with the Adjutant, Captain Brockhurst, and the Headquarters Staff, were gathered behind a small ruined hut in the centre of the Battalion’s line of advance, and here the Colonel earned the real admiration of his men by his extreme coolness and quiet jocularity.Puffing at a cigarette and carelessly swinging his walking-stick, Colonel Mackenzie moved about nonchalantly, making a few joking remarks here and there, and glancing ever and anon at his watch… The Colonel’s whistle was in his mouth; the shrill blast followed by his “Kensingtons - Advance!” and with his walking-stick waving high in the air, he was up the bank in front, leading the Battalion forward.’ (Ibid)
The Battalion subsequently took part in the advance to, and capture of Jerusalem, November - December 1917: ‘That night Lieut.- Colonel Mackenzie, with Captain C. E. Brockhurst, the Adjutant, and fourteen O.R.s, undertook a reconnaissance along the route from Soba in the direction of Ain Karim, which had seen so much patrol activity during the past week… Lieut.-Colonel Mackenzie decided to send on a company forward under Lieut. Baker to clear Ain Karim, the remaining three companies now having reached the vicinity of the White Tower. Patrols sent up the hill from White Tower reported that the enemy were in strength, estimated at a battalion, farther up the hill. Everything was very confusing owing to the incessant rain and complete darkness, accentuated by the abominable mist, and a for a time communication with Brigade was lost. Lieut.-Colonel Mackenzie hurriedly set to work to reorganise the Battalion under the White Tower.’ (Ibid)
The Battalion was heavily engaged in the front line operations against the Ottoman Seventh Army in the Judean Hills:‘The enemy attack broke in full force on the 2/13th line and a fire action followed, the Kensingtons hurling bombs on to the enemy swarming up the slopes of the hill, whilst many hand-to-hand encounters developed. The front line companies sent out an urgent S.O.S. and at Headquarters Lieut.-Colonel Mackenzie telephoned to the Brigadier that he would hold out to the last
man.Gathering round him a little knot of Headquarters Staff, signallers, scouts, batmen, and runners, the C.O. prepared to defend the support ridge should the front line companies be swept back.’ (Ibid)
Mackenzie remained with the Battalion in Palestine until he relinquished command in April 1918. He was posted back to the UK to command the 3/15th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles). Mackenzie subsequently served as Commandant of a Demobilisation camp at Wimbledon.
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