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79 - RECORDS OF THE MEN OF LOCHBROOM
1918
34236. Pte. DUNCAN MACKENZIE,
10th Scottish Rifles (Cameronians).
Aged 31
Son of Mr. John Mackenzie, Letters, Lochbroom.
| Joined the Scottish Rifles |
May, 1916. |
| Proceeded to France |
Sept. 1916. |
| Died of Wounds |
24th July, 1918. |
| Buried at Beauzancy |
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Had two brother serving -
- Roderick Mackenzie, R.N.R. Wounded while serving in the Dardanelles.
- John Mackenzie, R.N.R., who served in an Ammunition Ship.
“In the field of proud honour, our swords in our hands,
Our King and our Country to save,
While Victory shines on life’s last ebbing sands,
O, who would not rest with the brave.”
– R. Burns.
Official records put his age as being 32 and not 31. |
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On this grave there is the following inscription: "GOD CALLED HIM HOME, TO SUFFER NO MORE." |
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Information kindly shared by Peter Newling:
Duncan Mackenzie, also of Letters, is from the croft next but one from Southend – it now has the name Tor Cottage. He was the son of crofter/fisherman John Mackenzie and his wife Catherine. His younger brothers Roddie (Nelson) and John both served at sea (Roddie being wounded in the Gallipoli fighting) but Duncan joined the 10th Scottish Rifles (Cameronians).
He was killed on 23rd July 1916 in action near the village of Buzancy. A plan was hastily conceived to take advantage of a situation in which both sides had moved from the old lines of trenches, and the 10thSR command only learned at 9.20 pm on the 22nd of the proposed assault at 5.00 am the next morning.
It was, frankly, underprepared and the maps were in error as to the enemy positions. The result was that the protective bombardment did not damage the German machine gun positions and Duncan’s unit ran into serious fire. In fact their particular objective (a sugar beet factory) was taken, but it was necessary to withdraw. Duncan, who was aged 31, is buried at the Buzancy Military Cemetery.
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