ALLAN KEITH MACKENZIE
Location:
St Kentigern’s Episcopal Church
Braemar Road,
Ballater
Aberdeenshire
AB35 5RL
Details on cross:
Towards the top of the shaft:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
On the cross beam:
ALLAN KEITH MACKENZIE
CAPTAIN. 3RD BATTN GRENADIER GUARDS.
DIED OF WOUNDS
RECEIVED THE PREVIOUS DAY AT GINCHY.
On the shaft under the cross beam:
SEPT 16TH 1916 — RIP
Text type: Black hand painted lettering
Cross dimensions (Approx)
Shaft Height: 2100 mm
Cross beam width: 1200 mm
Width of wood: Shaft: 125 mm; Cross beam: 150mm
Thickness or depth: 50 mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: Attached to the wall with a supporting plate and standing on a wooden niche
Detailing: White or grey painted with black lettering. The top of the shaft and the ends of the cross beam have small wooden plates attached to finish the ends.
Evidence of use in field: Insert marks into the ground, numerous hand marks, nail marks, evidence that other things have been attached at one time.
Surface insertion depth (if apparent): 575 mm
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Painted as described
Condition: Good overall, with original marks and some paint fading.
Notes and observations:
The cross is mounted on the wall above the main entrance to the church, about 4m from the floor.
CWGC:-
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 16/09/1916 Age:29
Regiment/Service: Grenadier Guards 3rd Bn.
Grave Reference: Plot 2. Row D. Grave 55.
Cemetery: CORBIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Additional Information: Son of Lady and the late Sir Allan Mackenzie, Bart., of Glen Muick, Aberdeenshire.
Survey and photographs courtesy of Scott Galloway
Date of survey: 25/10/2016
War diary – 3rd Grenadier Guards.
Zero hour was timed for 6.20 a.m. and the Battalion was ready in position by about 3 a.m. The men slept therefore from 3 – 5.45 a.m. when they were given sandwiches and an issue of rum. During this time the “tanks”, which were attached to the Division could be heard making their way up in rear of us. We were in immediate touch with 6th Division on our right. At 6.0 a.m. our heavy artillery fired about 40 rounds in quick succession. This of course woke up the enemy, who put down his usual barrage on GINCHY village (particularly the NE corner) and started shelling LEUZE WOOD and troops of the 6th Division who were still moving about in that neighbourhood.At 6.19 ½ a.m. the whole Brigade rose to it’s feet and advanced. Our left front company was met by machine gun fire as soon as it got up and lost Capt MACKENZIE and Mr ASQUITH at once. 2/Lt H. Williams was wounded a few yards further on. The last remaining officer of that company also fell within 200 yards of our own trenches.Our rt front company however appeared to get off much more fortunately and did not seem to lose until a considerable way out.
He was wounded in the the same attack as Raymond Asquith whose cross is at Mells in Somerset, Asquith is buried at Guillemont.
NS
