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William McKenzie (1869-1947), Salvation Army officer and military chaplain, was born on 20 December 1869 at Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, eldest of seven sons of Donald McKenzie, ploughman, and his wife Agnes, née Callan. He claimed to have been brought up on 'porridge, the shorter catechism and plenty of lickings' but his parents, strict Presbyterians, probably provided for his education. In 1884 the family migrated to Queensland. His father 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. In 1887, however, he attended a Salvation Army meeting and found the practical Christianity on display much to his liking. In 1889, following study at the training college in Melbourne, McKenzie became a commissioned officer. His first posting was to Newcastle, New South Wales—'a tough place', he described it. The Salvation 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”'.

McKenzie was posted throughout Australia, marrying Annie Dorothy Hoepper, a fellow Salvationist, at Horsham, Victoria, on 21 June 1899. In 1914 he was Australian delegate to the World Congress of the Salvation Army in London. On the outbreak of war McKenzie applied for a chaplaincy immediately and was selected. He joined the Australian Imperial Force on 25 September 1914, was attached to the 4th Battalion, and sailed on 20 October.

McKenzie soon made his presence felt on the transport. He was a very big man with a big voice to match. He conducted the usual church parades but also organized concerts and sports. Unlike many chaplains he participated in the men's recreations, taking particular delight in the boxing contests. His long reach, jarring upper-cuts and dangerous half-hooks left some of the A.I.F.'s best fighters dazed.

At Mena Camp, Egypt, McKenzie worked hard to improve physical conditions and was diligent in the provision of 'comforts'. The legend sprang up that, incensed that the venereal diseases camp had taken on the appearance of a prison, he helped the men to pull down the barbed-wire fence. This is unlikely because in his diary McKenzie shows a distinct lack of sympathy for venereal sufferers. His earliest A.I.F. nicknames were 'Holy Joe', 'Salvation Joe', then 'Padre Mac', but he was soon to become famous as 'Fighting Mac'.

McKenzie was one of the first chaplains ashore at Gallipoli; 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. McKenzie 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. Many other chaplains seemed comparatively aloof and rigid in their views. As one soldier remarked: 'I'm not religious, but your damned religion'll do me every damned time'.

'Fighting Mac' soon became renowned as a soldier as well as a chaplain. These stories may well have been exaggerated for chaplains were prevented by their calling from joining in the fight. Unlike John Fahey, another reputed soldier-chaplain, McKenzie did not deny these stories. Reports abound that he led charges at Gallipoli, often armed only with a shovel.

In France and Belgium he 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. By this time McKenzie had become famous, both in the A.I.F. and at home. He had lost five stone (32 kg) at Gallipoli but not his enthusiasm and certainly not his powerful singing voice. He was forever writing songs; one, 'Goodbye Cairo!', became the battalion's rallying cry.

In late 1917 McKenzie was released from active service, his health shattered, not surprising for a man of 48. He had been awarded a Military Cross in June 1916 for 'distinguished services in the field', and it was rumoured that he had three times been recommended for the Victoria Cross. He was farewelled officially from the battalion—a most unusual gesture.

7000 people crowded Melbourne's Exhibition Building to greet him on his return early in 1918; other welcomes followed in every State. But the war had profoundly affected him. He said he was 'completely unstrung and unnerved—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?'

Even after the war's end McKenzie remained famous and much in demand. He resumed Salvation Army work in several States until in 1926 he took charge of the Salvationists' work in North China. He spent more than three years in China and 'lost his heart to the country'. Again, practical Christianity dominated his approach during an appalling four-year drought with millions dying of starvation. McKenzie returned to Australia with some reluctance in 1930.

The Salvation Army promoted him to command of the 'southern territory' (Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia), 1930-32, then as commissioner to command of the 'eastern territory' (New South Wales and Queensland), 1932-39. He was appointed O.B.E. in 1935.

McKenzie, the most famous man in the A.I.F., as some dubbed him, was prominent in Anzac day celebrations in Sydney from 1933. With W. M. Hughes, he was the man every digger wanted to greet.

On 1 March 1939 McKenzie retired from active work and was farewelled quietly in accordance with his wish. He died on 26 July 1947 in Sydney, survived by his wife, three sons and daughter, a Salvationist medical missionary in Rhodesia, and was buried in Rookwood cemetery.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mckenzie-william-7391

William McKENZIE

Military Cross & Mentioned in Despatches.

Military Cross Recommendation:-

At Anzac

‘Continued courageous devotion to duty during the occupation of Anzac. Both in the trenches and out his behaviour has set a good example to the men in the zealous way in which he carried out his duties under fire’. 

Recommendation 18 February 1916                 

Major Colonel   - Commander 1st Australian Brigade

Mentioned in Despatches- for Distinguished and Gallant services rendered with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

Recommendation – February 18, 1916

Major- General, Commanding 1st Aust’n Division

The Bendigo Independent published the following news on September 25, 1914, the day a well-known local identity enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces.

‘SALVATION ARMY CHAPLAIN APPOINTED.

Brigadier McKenzie, who is in command of the Bendigo division of the Salvation Army work, has received instructions to proceed to Sydney at once, to join one of the troop transports as Army chaplain. He will leave Bendigo by the midday train tomorrow, and will accompany the troops to the front.[1]

War was declared as the Scottish born preacher William McKenzie was sailing between London and Australia in August 1914. He had just attended the World Congress of the Salvation Army held in London 1914. He would be home only two weeks before enlisting at the Bendigo Town Hall at the age of 44. He was attached to the 4th Battalion, and sailed on 20 October.

Ten months later, the same paper would publish a letter under the heading ‘Buriel of the Dead’ sent to the most senior Salvation Army Commissioner in the state, Jas. Hay.

“The Australians are making a wonderful name for themselves for desperate fighting. But it is awful country, and the cover and obstacles are heavy against our forces. They have done marvellous work as it is. You will read the list of casualties long ere you get this note. The sights I see among these are beyond me to describe. Their groans and moaning are fearful in some cases. My heart has been wrung with anguish as I talked to the dear fellows. Australia is paying a heavy toll, and it has only begun. Few of us expect to come out of it with whole skins. 0ur brigadier and brigade major are both gone, with many other brave officers and men. We are-holding on like grim death.[2]

William McKenzie would become one of the well-known AIF personalities of the First World War. Known as 'Fighting Mac' he was renowned as a soldier as well as a chaplain. In a biography by Michael McKernan written in 1986, he describes McKenzie’s war experience:-

‘Reports abound that he led charges at Gallipoli, often armed only with a shovel’. In France and Belgium he continued to live in the front line with the troops. He was at Pozières, Bullecourt, Mouquet Farm, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele. In late 1917 McKenzie was released from active service, his health shattered, not surprising for a man of 48. He had been awarded a Military Cross in June 1916 for 'distinguished services in the field', and it was rumoured that he had three times been recommended for the Victoria Cross. He was farewelled officially from the battalion—a most unusual gesture’. [3]

Returning to Bendigo in early 1918, Fighting Mac was enthusiastically welcomed home by Bendigoians and returned soldiers. 

 ‘Amid cheers from a fair crowd that had assembled the gathering formed a procession, and the pipers striking out they marched round the fountain, down Pall Mall, to the Town Hall. The party passed scores of people who cheered, but the demonstration at the Town Hall was a unique one. The crowd that filled the hall rose in a body as "Captain Mac." entered and cheered and cheered again and again.

Chaplain McKenzie was loudly cheered when be rose to reply. It was, he said, an altogether unexpected honor and possibly had he known what it was to be he may not have faced it. He was neither a hero nor a saint, and had no right to any such claim. He was only a very ordinary sort of individual and was very proud to be able to do his little bit to help his country and the very gallant men who had gone to protect their heritage that had been attacked by the enemies who were trying to destroy them. At the same time he highly appreciated the kind remarks that had been made concerning, him. There was, he assured them, no danger of his suffering from swelled head. He knew himself pretty well, and was getting too old in the horns for anything like that’ [4].

SERVICE DETAILS:

Born: 20 December 1869, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Occupation: Salvation Army Officer

Address: 67 Garsed Street, Bendigo, Victoria

Marital status; Married

Date of enlistment: 25 September 1914                 

Age at enlistment: 44

Embarked: HMAT Suffolk from Sydney, 18 October 1914

Next of kin: Wife, Mrs Dorothy McKenzie, 67 Garsed Street, Bendigo.

Rank on enlistment: Chaplain (4th Class)

Unit name: Chaplains' Corps, Salvation Army

Fate: Returned to Australia 10 January 1918                 

Medal Source: Military Cross

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 21 September 1916 on page 2622 at position 23

Date of death: 26 July 1947

At Anzac – William McKenzie was one of the first chaplains ashore at Gallipoli; 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.[5]

McKenzie would spend nearly six fateful months on the Gallipoli Peninsula before being granted one-month leave in mid October. He would rejoin his unit just prior to the Allied evacuation off Gallipoli.  

[1] The Bendigo Independent, Fri 25 Sep 1914.Page 3
[2] The Bendigo Independent, Fri 2 Jul 1915. Page 3
[3] Australian Dictionary of Biography, McKenzie, William (1869–1947) by Michael McKernan. Volume 10, (MUP), 1986
[4] The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918)  Wed 20 Mar 1918  Page 5
[5] Australian Dictionary of Biography, McKenzie, William (1869–1947) by Michael McKernan. Volume 10, (MUP), 1986