CABAR FEIDH. More for you online!

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1 CABAR FEIDH Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada clanmackenziecanada.ca ISSN Summer 2018 Annual Meeting The Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada s Annual General Meeting is taking place in conjunction with the Colchester Highland Games near Truro, Nova Scotia, on Sunday, Sept. 9, see Page 3 for details. Games Reports The highland games season is well underway and the Clan MacKenzie has been well represented at many, including the Georgetown games held in June - see Page 9 for our report. MacKenzie dishes In this issue, we feature some images of dishes from the Royal Ontario Museum s MacKenzie Dinner Service collection. Other items are included in the ROM s online collection, viewable at rom.on.ca. A surprising find in genealogy This photograph relates to an interesting story told by CMSC Hon. Life President Alan McKenzie on a newly discovered family connection which revealed a previously unknown relation. Please turn to Page 6 for the full account. More for you online! The Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada is quite active online with frequent updates on and on the official CMSC website at clanmackenziecanada.ca - visit us there today and stay current with your Clan!

2 Clan MacKenzie News << The Royal Wedding Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada Commissioner (BC) Roddy MacKenzie, was interviewed by CTV News ahead of the Royal Wedding in May. Shown here in an Internet screen capture, Roddy provided perspective from the streets of Windsor ahead of the much-anticipated wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now officially the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Note the MacKenzie tartan tie. >> Obituary: Donald McKenzie It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Donald R. McKenzie of Manitoba, a life member of the Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada, on March 30, He was predeceased by his wife Eleanor McKenzie in See the CMSC website for full obituary. 2

3 CABAR FEIDH Editor: Robert D. MacKenzie, FSA Scot Cabar Feidh is published quartly by the Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada This publication is provided for members of the Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada in electronic format, available for download at clanmackenziecanada.ca. 3

4 The joy of publishing It's fair to say that sometimes, things don't go to plan when taking on a new project. Such has been the case for me in taking over the responsibility for Cabar Feidh, our Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada magazine. The "Summer Issue" now in your hands was meant to be published more than a month ago, but the ravages of time in juggling a busy career and home life - plus some unforseen challenges with my design program - has taken its toll. However, in the end, it all works out. As you can see from this issue, our official publication is still evolving. With a new design program and template having been selected, the face of our newsletter has changed again and will likely continue to do so in future editions. Ideally, Cabar Feidh will serve more as a magazine with longer, more detailed feature articles provided to members while the "news" of the CMSC is carried largely on the website and social media. Thanks to our Digital Media Commissioner Scott McKenzie, the Clan's presence on Twitter has gained much momentum and our website is looking great. Moving forward, we will continue to enhance our communications and invite members to share their thoughts and suggestions as always! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this late-summer issue! - Robert MacKenzie editor@clanmackenziecanada.ca

5 The new bright blue and very sturdy CLAN MACKENZIE tent was most prominent at many Ontario Scottish festivals this summer including the Georgetown Highland Games held in June.

6 Old family Bible page of the Martin family 6

7 A SURPRISING DISCOVERY Chance encounter helps reveal a previously unknown family connection and fill in a gap in family genealogy - BY ALAN MCKENZIE Many years ago when talking to my late father, Major William Alexander McKenzie, he was trying to help me put together a family tree of his McKenzie family. He had several uncles and aunts but since he moved around so much, as his father was also a serving soldier, he had lost all contact with them. So it became a struggle to get much information from him. However, the scraps which he told me I recorded in case it might help. One of the things he mentioned was that on the mantlepiece in his father s house in Woolwich, London (his father moved from Scotland to England to work in the Woolwich Arsenal) was a photograph of five generations in the family. That was important as that meant that someone must have lived to a great age. Another important record was given to me by a McKenzie aunt and it was a page from a family bible showing the Martin family (my McKenzie grandfather was married to Elizabeth Martin). This became an important link to other family members I did not know about. About a dozen years ago my only close relative who lived in Canada was my cousin whose grandmother was my grandfather McKenzie s sister. She told me she had a copy of the photo showing the five generations and she kindly gave it to me. About two or three of the persons shown were marked on the back as being members of the Martin family so that became a valuable item for the genealogical records. In the late 1990s, I was heavily involved in the Scottish Studies Foundation. We used to bring certain musicians over from Scotland and even a pop group - these forms of entertainment were well supported by the Scots in the Toronto area. One such group was The Rowan Tree Company, a small group of singers and musicians led by Lady Judy Steel, wife of Lord Steel, the former head of the Liberal Party in Great Britain. They lived in a castle, the Tower of Aikwood, on the Scottish Borders. I still listen to the CD of their music as well as the poems of Judy Steel herself. One of my jobs was to look after these guests four of them in total and accordingly, I ran them all over Ontario with the inevitable trips to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. They were just splended people and they much enjoyed this bit of their trip to Canada. 7

8 So what has all this to do with genealogy, you ask... Well it is strange how things tie together in a totally unexpected way. Out of the blue, my son Ian in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, sent me an to say he had been in touch through Ancestry. com with a lady who was a part of our family I did not know of in Scotland. She mentioned that her elderly mother had a copy of that same photo of the five generations (front page of this issue). When she was shown the page from the family Bible she said I have found my family! She also was able to fill in some gaps in my genealogy. Most surprising was the fact that my grandmother Elizabeth Martin had a brother James Martin, a school master, born in Dingwall where my family came from. This James Martin had a daughter, Sheila Eunice Nanette Martin and this lady was married to the Very Rev. David Steel. Their son is the same Lord David Steel, who was married to Lady Judy Steel. Lord David Steel is well know in Britain. He was the first Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament in office from , he was formerly the Leader of the Liberal Party in Great Britain and later the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in office March 1988 July There is a very lengthy record of him on Wikipedia on the Internet. As a matter of interest, the Very Rev. David Steel who died in 2002 aged 92 was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Since Lord Steel and I are both descended from the common ancestors William Martin and Elizabeth MacLennan, we are therefore second cousins! I only wish I had known all this when I was entertaining his wife at my house all those years ago. Alan McKenzie, FSA Scot, is Hon. Life President of the Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada. FIVE GENERATIONS OF A FAMILY The photograph on Page 1 of this issue depicts (top left) Isabella McLean (nee Martin) born 1859; Elizabeth Martin (nee McLennan) born 1841; bottom left Grannie Ann McLennan (nee McQueen) born 1816, mother of Elizabeth McLennan; bottom right Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Isabella Martin; and baby John Cameron born 1907, son of Elizabeth in the photo. 8

9 GEORGETOWN GAMES A report from one of the first highland games of the season attended by Clan MacKenzie - By ALAN MCKENZIE Some of the group at Georgetown pictured with Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette. We had fine weather, overcast rather but not too warm, all very pleasant. This was a new scenario for us. Firstly, except for books and a few t-shirts we were not selling anything, with one big exception. We had some sets of Findon Tables in a hard tube and accompanying booklet for a cost of only $60, but we did not sell any. We also had on display hardboard sets of Findon Tables produced for us by Gateway Visual Communications, our printer of the clan magazine for many years. They have digitized them and so can produce any number of copies on demand, sparkling clean and unmarked. Sheet One of the tables, showing the leading chiefs of the Clan MacKenzie, has been enlarged and put on a display screen to attach to the clan tent. This was the first time we had to put up the new tent. It is large, 13 x 13 and weighs an awful lot but we had a grand team all ready to put the big tent up. Volunteers present were Alan & Susan McKenzie, Shawn and Shea MacKenzie, Larry and Alice Doyle, Sandy Mackenzie and later in the day Robert MacKenzie, our new editor of Cabar Feidh magazine. The new positions for the various clan displays (there were eleven clans represented) was roomy and we were even permitted to park the clan van near the tent. Successes of the day included signing on a new member, Mark Murchison, the first sept member with that name to join the CMSC. The Murchison name has a great history in our clan so we were very happy to sign him up. It was also good to see past-president Norman Mackenzie with his friend Robyn. He was also helpful with the setup of the new tent and has since renewed his membership in the CMSC. 9

10 Covered tureen and tray from the Mackenzie dinner service. Museum description of the "Mackenzie dinner service" collection. Dishes of Roderick of Terrebonne These beautiful, hand painted dishes are part of the 29 pieces still surviving, now on display in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, from a set originally belonging to Roderick MacKenzie of Terrebonne. Roderick was an early fur trader (see David Ford article in this issue (March 2018) and also the article by Michael Hartley in December 2017 issue) who built Fort Chipewyan at Athabasca, Alberta, from which his first cousin, Sir Alexander MacKenzie, launched both his western and northern expeditions. These photographs were supplied by President Sharie Argue who suggested that future issues of Cabar Feidh might feature other MacKenzie family treasures and artifacts. If you have some such family treasures and would like to share them and their history with other Mackenzies, please do submit a picture (by if possible) and tell us about your item. 10

11 Mackenzie dinner service collection, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON. Beaufiul vase bearing the very familar Clan MacKenzie motto Luceo Non Uro and stag s head sheild, part of the Mackenzie dinner service collection at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. These and other items from the collection may be seen as part of the online collections at rom.on.ca.

12 Seigneurial house at Terrebonne once occupied by Roderick MacKenzie. TAKING A LOOK AT TERREBONNE Clan MacKenzie members played a significant part in the history of this lovely Montreal suburb - By DAVID FORD Terrebonne lies north of the city center, on the north shores of the Rivière des Mille-Îles and of the Rivière des Prairies. Today it is a big place, with seven exits to it from the freeway, and a population of 112,000 or so. Mackenzies played a significant part in its history, most notably one Roderick MacKenzie. 12

13 Terrebonne started as a seigneury of New France, two leagues by two (16 square miles or 43 square km) granted to an absentee landlord in It continued undeveloped until it was purchased by a remarkable priest, Louis Lepage de Sainte- Claire. He got to work, granting leases to 81 farmers, adding another 16 square miles to the land holdings, building a village with a stone church, a presbytery, and most important, four flour mills and a sawmill. The mills took advantage of an abundance of local water power, as evidenced in this photograph (below). Picture of the lowest level of one of the huge flour mills. Seigneury Flour mills took advantage of an abundance of water power. These mills formed the core of what became Quebec s first industrial complex. It appears that they were a key consideration in the decision of Simon McTavish, leader of the Northwest Company, to buy the seigneury in He only lived for two years after that but he hired my three-times great-grandfather Henry MacKenzie to be his manager before he died. Henry was one of the boys, five brothers who were encouraged to emigrate to North America by their cousin Alexander Mackenzie, the explorer. The boys played a significant role in the development of this country. Roderick founded Fort Chipewyan, the first European settlement in Alberta. Donald was chief factor for the Hudson s Bay Company in Fort Garry, now Winnipeg, and has a river named after him in southern Oregon. 13

14 Photograph of the displayed portrait of John Mackenzie by William Berczy at the National Gallery of Canada at Ottawa. A great deal of development began after McTavish made his purchase. A store was built, two very modern flour mills, a bakery for biscuits for the northwest, a saw mill, a carding mill, and a fulling mill. This work is sometimes attributed to McTavish, but as he never lived at the seigneury and died two years after the purchase, it seems more likely to me that the man behind them was Henry MacKenzie. Henry stayed on as manager, it seems, until 1832, the year he died. Henry s much older brother Roderick also moved to the seigneury. In fact he became Seigneur from 1817 to 1824, when a dispute over the transfer to him resulted in its return to McTavish s widow. His granddaughter married into the very famous Masson family of Quebec. Joseph Masson, French Canada s first millionaire, purchased the seigneury in 1832, and continued to develop it actively. Here is a picture of the seigneurial house built by his widow Genevieve-Sophie: In October of last year, my wife and I spent a wonderful day visiting Île-des-Moulins, where these structures are located, now a well-developed national historic site. We were guests of the very gracious Francoise Gaudry, great, great-granddaughter of the lady who built the house in the picture above, and three greats-granddaughter of Roderick MacKenzie. She had arranged for us to be accompanied by Francois Vallee, a site historian and an estimable young man. Francoise spent many happy childhood days at a home near the site, and knows it intimately. Francois is very well-versed in its history. There are a number of very impressive and beautiful buildings on the site, but unfortunately little is left from the time of the MacKenzies. Before its value was recognized the site had been left to ruin, and it was only restored through the strenuous efforts of some of the inhabitants of Terrebonne and large expenditure 14

15 Historic house once occupied by Roderick MacKenzie at Terrebonne, Quebec. on the part of the Province of Quebec. The newer buildings were naturally better preserved, and Joseph Masson and his wife were very active landlords, determined to make their investment pay, and pay it did! They replaced many buildings in the process. As pictured on Page 13, the lowest level of one of their huge flour mills, where water from the river flows through and they have models of the various styles of water wheels used: There is a considerable amount of material about the site available on the Internet, mostly in French. There is one review available in English on TripAdvisor. A few days after visiting Terrebonne we visited the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Imagine our surprise when we found MacKenzie's portrait (by William Berczy) hanging in the Canadian gallery.berczy also did portraits of Roderick MacKenzie and of Henry. There is a copy of the one of Henry in the Glengarry Nor'Westers and Loyalist Museum in Williamstown Ontario. If you have the opportunity, I strongly suggest that you visit the Île-des-Moulins. Besides being a lovely place to visit, it has a fascinating history, and it makes more real the considerable contribution members of the Clan MacKenzie made to the development of this country. 15

16 A PLAN TO STRIKE AT HIS UNCLE HECTOR S PERSON Part V of the 1st Earl of Cromartie s history - transcribed by ALAN MCKENZIE John s prosecution of his plan to strike at his uncle s person required that he approach Hector. He would tell him that as Hector had already taken his estate and John now requested that he would be so good as to provide him with a galley with as many of the ablest youths of the country as should voluntarily follow him. With these youths he would go to Ireland, which was then at war, and there either purchase a glorious death, or gain a more plentiful fortune than he was likely to have at home. This suggestion pleased his uncle Hector exceedingly. He thereupon not only gave him his own birlinn (so they called a galley), but also furnished him with all necessary provisions. He also assured him that if John prosecuted this design he would yearly send him funds until his fortune be above necessity. Whereas if Hector had resolved otherwise and endeavoured to have him molested in his right (as he called it) he might bring a sudden ruin upon himself. Of all the youths in the country none voluntarily offered themselves to his adventure with John except just thirty; nor would John have any such youths that did not offer themselves freely, on good grounds judging such, and only such, as fit companions for him in his condition as resolved and affectionate. He appointed them, with the boat, to attend him at Corristone, one of the most private glens in all the west coast, and distant from all other people, while he stayed with his uncle to be supplied with some necessaries, but also to observe his method and manner of converse. At last he took leave, with all seeming alacrity and simplicity. His uncle sent some servants to accompany him, to be sure of his departure, and watching him to prevent any other designs. Accompanied by these, he came to Corristone, where the boat and his company waited. With these he took the boat and set sail, with a fair wind for the Isles, as if intending from there to Ireland. Hector s servants immediately returned to their master, who lived then at Wester Fairburn, 24 miles distant from Corristone. On their return he asked them where they had left John. They told him that they saw him boated and gone. Well then, said he, we may now sleep without fear of Anne s children, for so Lovat s daughter, their mother was named. But John, sailing down the Loch of Corristone to a private creek, he immediately landed in a wood, dispersed his company, desired them in the most uncertain paths to meet him at Ald Corrinarnich, in the brae of Corristone, which, accordingly done, he followed Hector s men. Although he was near them before they came to Fairburn, he stayed off and lingered until about midnight. He then called his company together. Now, good friends, I see that you are now affectionate towards me and are resolute men, who have freely forsaken your country and relations to share in my unpromising fortune, 16

17 History of the family of MacKenzie by Sir George MacKenzie, First Earl of Cromartie but my design in seeking only such volunteers to go along with me was that I might have the certainty of the affection and resolution of my people; and since you are those whom I ought only to rely upon in this present danger, I shall tell you now that I was never so fainthearted as to quit my inheritance without attempting what is probable for any man in my capacity. In order to do this I feigned this design for Ireland for three reasons, first, to put my uncle in security, whom I ever found hitherto very circumspect and well guarded, next, by this to find out a select number to whom I might trust, and thirdly, that in case I fail, and that my uncle shall prevail over my endeavours, that I might have this boat and provisions as a safe retreat, both for myself and you, whom I should be loath to expose to so great a danger without some probability in the attempt and some security in the disappointment. I am resolved this night to fall upon my uncle, for he being gone there are none of his children who could dare to replace him. The countrymen, who, through fear, depend upon him and thus disown me, will, no doubt, based on these same motives, will support me once I have acquired my just position and title against all other injuries and pretenders to the rank of Chief of the Clan. There is one thing I do require of you. It is that despite the fact that those on whom we are to attack are all related to you and me, their destruction is necessary to preserve our life and the restitution of my estate, therefore you must all promise me not to give any quarter to my uncle or any of his company. To this John s company all agreed without considering their natural relationships to most of them. So on they went. About midnight, with great quietness, they burned with fire all the quarters of the house where Hector and his servants lay, standing in arms around the house to prevent anyone from escaping. However some of the attackers were provoked to pity by the danger of their relations than they were when they promised to give no quarter. Some of these called out to their nearest friends to come out and surrender. John saw that so many wanted this that he could not resist them. Well, he said, my uncle is as near in blood to me as any in the house are to you. Therefore I will be as kind to him as you are to them. Thereupon John called out to his uncle Hector to come forth and he would be assured of his life. Hector, in reponse to this call, surrendered himself to his nephew. The next day they went quickly to Kintail (having first sent on a messenger to inform his uncle Lovat of what had happened), where all the people, both there and in the rest of his heritage, recognised John as their master. The castle of Eilean Donan was forthwith delivered to him, with the charter-chest and the evidence of his estate, and all the lands for his use as well as the lists of heirs. His uncle 17

18 History of the Family MacKenzie Hector gave him all possible assistance and help, both by his prudence and experience. John followed his advice and gave Keanlochew to Donald Dow McGillechrist wcgillinach, who at Fairburn had endeavoured to kill Hector when John was giving him quarter. This Donald was foster brother to Sir Kenneth, and imagining that Hector, who kept John from his inheritance, had underhandedly been accessory to Sir Kenneth s captivity in Edinburgh and as a consequence to his death. He thereupon had a hatred against Hector. But Hector judged this to be from his fidelity and affection to his master and so took the opportunity not only to forgive him but to reward him generously. This Donald Dow afterwards killed Buchanan at the Battle of Flodden as revenge for Sir Kenneth s death. He was so mindful of this revenge even during that ruinous battle. John remained ever after on good terms with his uncle Hector and had peaceable ownership of his estate. John voluntarily gave a portion of his estate to his uncle for maintenance during his life, but to Hector s greater advantage he was also given men and money to allow him to prosecute actions against Gairloch. The situation that gave rise to this course of action was as follows. The Laird of Gairloch at that time was a McLeod of the Lewis family. He married a McKenzie woman, who was a daughter of Alexander of Kintail, and thus a sister of Hector. On what grounds I know not, but McLeod of Lewis, whose sister was the second wife of the Laird of Gairloch, killed Hector McKenzie s sister s son. This son should have succeeded to the Gairloch estate. Instead the estate would now go to McLeod of Lewis s sister s son. Hector was justly incited to revenge and indeed had made an attempt at prosecution during John s minority, but he was not willing to engage in a war with so potent a neighbour as McLeod of Lewis while he was not secure in his unjust possession of his nephew s estate. But now he was free of that fear and the possiblilty of obtaining a fortune suitable to his mind and his quality, he resolved at once to revenge the murder and make it productive to his own advantage. In order to do this he had to submit suits as were accessory to the murder to the Chief Justice. Their well-grounded fears as being accessories to the murder caused them to absent themselves, whereupon they were declared fugitives and Hector was granted commissions for their pursuit. This he did so resolutely that within a short time he had killed many, preserved some to justice, and forced the remainder to a composition advantageous to himself which was to legally make over one half or a third part of Gairloch (I know not which as I do not have the charter beside me). His successors, who were both active and provident men acquired thereafter the rest from their unthrifty neighbours. The greatest defeat that Hector gave to tribe 18

19 Fireplace at Castle Leod at Strathpeffer - pictured with CMSC President Sharie Argue (2nd left) are BC Commissioner Joan MacKenzie (and cousin of Sharie s) with Cabarfeidh and the Countess of Cromartie. See the next issue for an article on Castle Leod. of McLeod of Lewis was at Balach Glasleod, near Kintail, where most were killed or taken. Hector married McRanald of Moydart s daughter, his son John Glas, married Glengarry s daughter, and his grandson, Alexander, married Redcastle s daughter. This Alexander was the man who, by both sword and law, accomplished the acquiring of the rest of Gairloch from the McLeods of Lewis, getting from them the voluntary resignation of four davochs [considerable areas of land] and Glaslettir to him and his heirs. But to return to John of Kintail, who all this while assited his uncle but shunned to meddle in matters of blood on private quarrels, though none was more forward in his prince s service. When he found his uncle Lovat s mistake, who had taken a precept of clare constat from James Duke of Ross, despite the barony of Kintail was held immediately of the King, John, as soon as he acquired the possession of his estate in 1507, he went to Edinburgh the next year and obtained from King James IV a charter, with a novodamus [granted anew] of all his lands. At this time the Earldom of Ross was now in the King s hands 19

20 following the death of James Stewart, Duke of Ross. This new charter of all his lands under the Great Seal, is dated at Edinburgh, February 16, In this charter all his lands, namely: the 40 merk land in Kintail, 4 merk of Killin, 4 merk of Garve, 3 merk land of Keanlochlychart and Corrievunlie, the merk land of Garbet, the merk land of Delnatua, 4 merk land of Auchnluisk, 3 merk land of Taage, 2 merk land of Keanloch Beandachar, 3 merk of Inverchoran, 3 merk of Invermaine, 4 merk of Mein, 4 merk of Escadell, all are united to the baronly of Kintail, and designated the baronly of Illandonan. Thereafter John emplyed himself managing his private estate. He did this with prudence and success, neither doing nor receiving wrong from anyone. In the year, 1515 with a competent number of men, he accompanied the Earl of Huntly, then Lord Lieutenant of the North, to the unhappy field of Flodden, under King James IV, as did many others of the northern gentlemen, amongst whom was Munro of Foullis who was killed in the field. John escaped, being of the vanguard who fought with Huntly, and had, by their victory over the enemy s vanguard, more honour and more safety than the rest of that unfortunate army. Hathornden writes upon misfortune that McKenzie was killed there, but he returned home and was thereafter at the Battle of Pinky in his old age. King James IV was killed at Flodden. McDonald imagined that he might at such a time have an advantage in Ross. He gathered a number of Islanders and marched towards that province, but McKenzie gathered a number sufficient to have fought him. McDonald had advanced the length of Keanloch-beandachar in Strathconon, where, hearing of McKenzie s preparations, he burned and wasted the land there about, and hearing that Eilean Donon was neither provided with men nor ammunition, he decided to quit all other plans and aim at that place instead. So often had his McDonald predecessors been defeated against the McKenzies, and indeed it was so that the house was very ill provided because the peace that John McKenzie had with all his neighbours put him in more security that his own predecessors were acquainted with. There was in the house [castle] as constable one Gillechrist McRae, great grandfather to John McRae, parson of Dingwall, whose brother, Milmoir, was killed by McDonad at Keanlochbeandachar. At their approach McDonald insolently demanded the house to be rendered. Gillichrist answered that he had no intention of giving it up to his master s enemy and his own brother s murderer. But instead of surrendering it he and his servants, being provided with no other ammuntion but bows and arrows, then shot them from the windows, killing some and wounding several. At last, with all their arrows spent, they saw McDonald leading his men down to a little place where the sea ebbs to the isle. Gillichrist, though resolute to defend with defensible weapons, relied on the strength of the place. However, he was much vexed that he could not assault them. By accident he noticed under a table a single arrow which had a broken head. I wish, he said, that this one shot could be well bestowed. He had his wish, for aiming at McDonald, who was at his boat-side, walking and giving orders for an approach to the house, he was hit in the ankle by this arrow. His artery was cut and the blood issued forth which such violence that his skilled surgeons were 20

21 not able to stop it. Within one hour McDonald was dead. This so discouraged his people that they immediately launched their boats and off for their homes. The next day McKenzie set off in pursuit of the McDonald s men but finding them gone and learning of McDonald s death he decided not to pursue them. This McDonald was of that branch which now possesses Sleat with many other lands, of whom Sir James McDonald is descended, and was grandson to the Earl of Ross by his second son, Hugh, who, since the failing of the prime root, the Earl of Ross, in the person of John of the Isles and his son Donald, is no doubt the Chief of the Clan, and was ever esteemed so by neighbours, and acknowledged by all the other branches of that name until of late some, as foolishly as groundlesly, contraverted it. This family though at that time retained their old hatred of McKenzie, yet shortly after they came to alliance and friendship together, and ever since none of all the neighbouring chiefs have carried so fairly and faithfully with McKenzie as they have done, both in peace and war. For this service King James V gave to him Kinchuldrum, Achilty, and Comery, with Meikle Scatwell, under the Great Seal, anno Clan MacKenzie Society of Canada - Commissioners SHARIE NORTHEY ARGUE, FSA SCOT President and Lieutenant to Caberfeidh GARY MACKENZIE Vice-President ALAN MCKENZIE, FSA SCOT Honorary Life President DANIEL MACKENZIE Commissioner (ON) - Treasurer LYNN MACKENZIE Commissioner (BC) - Membership ROBERT MACKENZIE, FSA SCOT Commissioner (ON) - Newletter Editor SCOTT MCKENZIE Commissioner (ON) - Digital Media BRITISH COLUMBIA COMMISSIONERS: Roderick MacKenzie Ian MacKenzie William MacKenzie Joan MacKenzie ALBERTA COMMISSIONERS: Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Scatwell Greg MacKenzie MANITOBA COMMISSIONERS: Michael H. Mackenzie ONTARIO COMMISSIONERS: Andrew MacKenzie Shawn MacKenzie QUEBEC COMMISSIONERS: Ken Mackenzie NOVA SCOTIA COMMISSIONERS: Tim Mackenzie This series will be continued in future issues of Cabar Feidh. For updated contact listings, events and membership information, please visit CLANMACKENZIECANADA.CA 21

22 PTE. LEO HARRIS MCKENZIE A soldier s story from the First World War - By GARY MACKENZIE Leo was born to John E. McKenzie ( ) and Ellen F. Aiken ( ) on the 22nd of September He was the fifth child of a family of seven along with eight half-brothers and sisters from his father s first wife, Margaret A. McCallum ( ). The McKenzie family were farmers located at Bay of Fortune, Prince Edward Island. He spent his early life working hard on the family farm. Although, Leo grew up on the farm he became interested in the military. He joined as a reservist with the 82nd Regiment Light Infantry of the Prince Edward Island Highlanders. On Dec. 3, 1915, the 105th Canadian Infantry Battalion was authorized in recognition of Prince Edward Island s support for the war effort. On 20th April 1916, the Battalion received its C.E.F. designation as the 105th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Prince Edward Island Highlanders). The Prince Edward Island contribution to WWI was enlistment of 3,696 soldiers from Aug. 4, 1914 to armistice on 11th November As many young men in the early years of WWI, Leo felt a need to enlist along with many fellow islanders. On 1st May 1916, at the age of 21 years, Leo signed up at the local recruiting office in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He would be enlisted in the 105th Overseas Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.). On June 30, 1916, the O.C. of 105th Overseas Battalion (C.E.F.) signed his Attestation Paper. On June 13, 1916, the recruits moved to Camp Valcartier, Quebec for initial training prior to leaving for United Kingdom. Finally on July 13, 1916, the men and officers were on their way to England, sailing from Halifax embarked on the SS Empress of Britain on July 15, Arriving at Liverpool on July 25, 1916, they proceeded to Shorncliffe Army Camp in Kent, where they were attached to the 1st Canadian Training Division. The strength of the 105th Battalion leaving Canada was 37 Officers and 1,107 Other Ranks, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A. Ernest Ings, with Lt- Col. R.H. Campbell as second-in-command. Leo and many of his fellow comrades would not see action at the front for some time. The daily training regimen of physical fitness, light military arms, route marches, map reading and many other aspects would be the life of the 105th. During this time, that battalion would not remain intact and would be amalgamated into the 104th Battalion and moved to Camp Whitley in January The powers to be, at this time felt the people of Prince Edward Island would not be able to sustain the unit with additional recruits. Leo was transferred to 13th reserve unit on March 2, 1918 where the troops would be taken as required to fill the ranks of soldier which have been wounded or killed in action. On April 5, 1918, Leo transferred from the 13th Reserve Unit to 26 Infantry Battalion at Seaford. His journey to the front would commence on April 13 with the 26 Infantry Battalion at the front in France. The WW1 effort in early months of 1918 was a defensive battle against the forces of Germany in northern France but the commanders of the allied forces decided it was time to start an offence. A surprise attack plan by the French General Ferdinand Foch was developed. The opposite strategy was under way with the combined 22

23 105th Canadian Infantry Battalion C.E.F., forces of the Canadian 2nd Corps, the British Fourth Army, the French First Army, the Australian Corps and others. The Allies were also bringing in many heavy and super-heavy equipment including howitzers, tanks and 2,000 aircraft. Pte. Leo Harris McKenzie had joined the 26th Infantry Battalion in July of 1918 part of the Canadian 2nd Corps. On August 8th the battle of Amiens commenced. The Canadian 2nd Corps would attack the German Fourth Army. There was no initial air bombardment by the Allies this was to allow the Allies to move the troops into place under cover of darkness. The Canadian troops captured several key targets and continued to push the German army back. The battle raged on for three days until the end of the battle on Aug. 11, On this day, Pte. McKenzie was injured when an artillery shell exploded near his position causing him to be knocked unconscious and sustaining an injury to his hand. He damaged the nerves in both ears and was transported back to the field hospital but soon recovered and returend to the front. The Battle of Amiens was a great victory for the Allies and a black day for the Germans. The Canadian Corps pushed back the Germans as many as 12km. But 1,036 Canadians Killed, 2,803 injured and 29 taken prisoner. The harsh times would include dirty water up to the waist infested with bugs and rodents. The Battle of Amiens was not the end but it was the start of what would be called the "Hundred Days Campaign." The 26th Battalion would continue to be called upon in the effort to push the Germans out of France. On the Sept. 30, 1918, in a subsequent battle Pte. McKenzie was wounded by a bullet to his left leg. Because of the extent of the leg wound, he was sent back to Britain for recovery at the 13th reserve Battalion. Pte. Leo Harris McKenzie would not see action again in WWI. On the Jan. 18, 1919, Leo would be sailing to Halifax on the H.M.S. Aquitania and arrive on the January 24. He would later meet with authorities at Charlottetown, P.E.I. for debriefing and medical assessment. He still had issues with his injuries and would be sent over to Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax Nova Scotia for medical assessment. He would be found to be medically unfit to continue in the Canadian Army and would be honorably released. Leo Harris McKenzie would return to the family farm at Bay of Fortune, P.E.I. He survived WW1 but unfortunately while riding his bicycle fell off and sustained a major injury and passed away on Sept. 28, Gary MacKenzie is Vice-President of the CMSC and is the grandson of Leo Harris McKenzie. 23

24 CLAN MACKENZIE SOCIETY OF CANADA CLAN BUSINESS Pictured are some of the 15 attendees at the quarterly meeting held at Alan McKenzie s residence at Oakville, Ontario on June 10, engaged in discussion of the business of CMSC. At right are long-time members and very active supporters Maggie McEwan and Bob Smart. Open to all members wishing to attend, these meetings are held as a way of brining members together for a social time and update on Clan MacKenzie projects and activities. 24