A Good WW1 Officer's Gallantry 'Mazingarbe Trench Raid', W.I.A., Military Cross & Medal Pair Awarded to Major A.V.Mackenzie, 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

Allan Victor Mackenzie was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on the 30th of January 1897. He was commissioned into the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry from the Special Reserve of Officers (no probation), on the 6th of July 1916.

2nd Lieutenant Mackenzie disembarked France on the 18th of October 1916, serving on the Western Front with the 1st Battalion, The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. The following is an online reference to the 1st Battalion at the time -

Trench raids. At 2 a.m. on the 1st of June 1917 1/KLSI raided the German Front Line. The attacking force was in four parties, each led by a Second Lieutenant. The whole raiding party had undertaken nine days’ of special training. All the raiders entered the enemy trenches killing sixteen Germans and destroying several machine gun posts. Intelligence was gained but no prisoners were taken. 1/KLSI suffered four killed and thirteen wounded.

Another smaller raid was conducted at 2.45 a.m. by twenty 1/KLSI on 4 June (with 2nd Lieutenant Mackenzie) but only ten minutes were allowed to achieve the task of obtaining prisoners. Strong opposition meant the raid did not succeed. 1/KLSI suffered three killed and fourteen wounded. On 7 July a sixty strong party of Germans raided the 1/KLSI D Company held trenches following a fifteen-minute artillery bombardment. The raid was repulsed by rifle and Lewis’s gun fire. 1/KLSI suffered twenty killed and fifteen wounded.

The following is taken from the Regimental War Diaries – ‘Both parties experienced difficulty in getting through the gaps in the wire which had been strengthened earlier in the evening by throwing coils of wire over the parapet.It was also found that the German trench was blocked by prepared wire which it was evidently intended to put out the same night.

The Left party entered the trench and at once followed up 5 of the enemy who ran down the trench in the direction of the party who had entered on the right.After passing 6 bays they occupied a strong post in the trench and proceeded to bomb.Both Officers were at once wounded (Mackenzie being one) and there were other casualties during this phase.No prisoners had been captured when the 10 minutes was up and the signal given to return.

Casualties: 2 Died of wounds
2 Officers and 12 Other Ranks Wounded
1 Missing (believed blown up)

Most of these casualties were cause by the enemy’s barrage on the return journey.

LESSONS LEARNT

(a)   At least 20 minutes should be allowed for the work in the hostile trench.

(b)   In case a hostile barrage is put down behind the patrol, an entrance should be made in out lines to a flank.

C. WINTERSCALE, Lieut. Colonel
Commanding 1st The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry’

It was during the second trench raid that 2nd Lt. Mackenzie earned his Military Cross, leading “D” Company. The rather impressive citation reads as follows –

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when leading raids into the enemy’s lines. His dash and determination enabled him to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy, and on one occasion he carried a wounded man back over a distance of 300 yards under heavy shell fire.His conduct through was beyond all praise.

London Gazette – 26th of July, 1917

The1st Battalion went on to further fighting during The Battle of Camrbrai during November 1917, Battle of Hindenburg Line and The Battle of Selle during 1918.

Post War, Mackenzie joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, and became a Anaesthetist working at hospitals in Shropshire.

With the outbreak of WW2, he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, and relinquished his commission on the grounds of ill health on the 27th January 1940.

The medals are mounted for display, sold with copied research, and are as follows –

G.V Military Cross, unnamed as issued; British War & Victory Medals, LIEUT A.V. MACKENZIE.

Condition, very fine

Major Mackenzie is not entitled to a 1914/15 Star, possible WW2 medal entitlement.