MACKENZIE, Alexander Scott (1886-1971)
MACKENZIE, Alexander Scott (1886-1971)
Alexander Scott MccKenzie was born at Sale on 26 June 1886, the son of Ewen MacKenzie and Elizabeth Jane nee Scott. He was enrolled as a day student at Geelong College by Miss McKenzie in 1900 His adress at enrolment was listed as Ann St, Herne Hill, Geelong.
He enlisted with the Royal Australian Navy on 9 December 1912 and was discharged on 22 February 1946 with the rank Surgeon Captain.
Pegasus of December 1914 noted: 'Surgeon A Scott Mackenzie, of HMAS Australia, was fortunately at Herbertshohe during the action fought in New Britain. This was actually fought at Karacaul, a few miles south of Herbertshohe. Mac also had the good fortune in assisting at the taking of Samoa.'
He died at Heidelberg, Victoria on 19 August 1971.
'The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force began recruiting on 11 August, consisting of a battalion of 1,000 infantry and a small battalion of 500 naval reservists and time-expired RN seaman. The force left Sydney on 19 August aboard the transport 'HMAT Berrima', a liner requisitioned from P & O, after a period of training near Townsville. The force sailed for Port Moresby to await the arrival of supporting RAN vessels. On 7 September the force, now including 'Australia', the cruisers, 'Sydney' and 'HMAS Encounter', the destroyers, 'Parramatta', 'Warrego' and 'Yarra', and the submarines, 'HMAS AE1' and 'HMAS AE2', sailed for Rabaul.
Meanwhile, on 9 September Melbourne landed a party on Nauru to destroy the wireless station, whereupon the German administrator promptly surrendered. On 11 September a force consisting primarily of naval reserve personnel was put ashore at Kabakaul to seize the wireless station located inland at Bitapaka. The landing force experienced strong initial resistance, and was forced to make small group attacks through the thick jungle to outflank the enemy. The wireless station was captured and destroyed. This attack resulted in Australia’s first combat casualties of the war - four sailors of the landing force and an attached Army doctor - AB Walker (he served as Courtney but was re-buried under his real name by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), AB Williams, AB Street, AB Moffatt, and Captain Pockley (Australian Army Medical Corps). The other fatal casualty suffered during the operation was Lieutenant Commander Elwell, Royal Navy.
On 12 September a combined Navy and Army force was put ashore at nearby Herbertshöhe, while another landing force seized Rabaul. On 14 September Encounter shelled German positions at Toma, the first time an RAN vessel had fired on an enemy and the RAN’s first shore bombardment. The German resistance, comprising forty reservists and 110 native troops, was no match for the ANMEF, covered by the 12” guns of Australia, and the acting Governor surrendered all of German New Guinea on 17 September 1914. Subsequent operations occupied Bouganville and the New Guinea mainland colonies unopposed. The Governor’s steam yacht Komet, captured on 9 October 1914, was subsequently commissioned into RAN service as HMAS Una. The campaign was an overwhelming success, rapidly achieving all objectives set by the War Office. A RAN reserve officer, Lt Bond, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the first Australian bravery award of the war. In a tragic footnote, AE1 disappeared without trace with all 35 personnel on board, the first unit of the RAN to be lost on operations. On 26 September Sydney completed Australian operations against the German Pacific colonies by destroying the German wireless station at Angaur in the Palau Islands.
The Expeditionary Force was commanded by Colonel William Holmes, a citizen force officer commanding the 6th Brigade in Sydney as well as the Secretary of the Sydney Water Board. The ground forces comprised a battalion of infantry enlisted in Sydney, a 500 strong Naval Boarding party recruited from naval reservists and part of a battalion of Queensland forces which had been sent to the garrison at Thursday Island at the outbreak of hostilities. All men who took part in the operation were volunteers. After the operation many of these men were to re-enlist with the Australian forces for overseas service and were to see action later in Gallipoli and France.'
Alexander Scott MccKenzie was born at Sale on 26 June 1886, the son of Ewen MacKenzie and Elizabeth Jane nee Scott. He was enrolled as a day student at Geelong College by Miss McKenzie in 1900 His adress at enrolment was listed as Ann St, Herne Hill, Geelong.
He enlisted with the Royal Australian Navy on 9 December 1912 and was discharged on 22 February 1946 with the rank Surgeon Captain.
Pegasus of December 1914 noted: 'Surgeon A Scott Mackenzie, of HMAS Australia, was fortunately at Herbertshohe during the action fought in New Britain. This was actually fought at Karacaul, a few miles south of Herbertshohe. Mac also had the good fortune in assisting at the taking of Samoa.'
He died at Heidelberg, Victoria on 19 August 1971.
'The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force began recruiting on 11 August, consisting of a battalion of 1,000 infantry and a small battalion of 500 naval reservists and time-expired RN seaman. The force left Sydney on 19 August aboard the transport 'HMAT Berrima', a liner requisitioned from P & O, after a period of training near Townsville. The force sailed for Port Moresby to await the arrival of supporting RAN vessels. On 7 September the force, now including 'Australia', the cruisers, 'Sydney' and 'HMAS Encounter', the destroyers, 'Parramatta', 'Warrego' and 'Yarra', and the submarines, 'HMAS AE1' and 'HMAS AE2', sailed for Rabaul.
Meanwhile, on 9 September Melbourne landed a party on Nauru to destroy the wireless station, whereupon the German administrator promptly surrendered. On 11 September a force consisting primarily of naval reserve personnel was put ashore at Kabakaul to seize the wireless station located inland at Bitapaka. The landing force experienced strong initial resistance, and was forced to make small group attacks through the thick jungle to outflank the enemy. The wireless station was captured and destroyed. This attack resulted in Australia’s first combat casualties of the war - four sailors of the landing force and an attached Army doctor - AB Walker (he served as Courtney but was re-buried under his real name by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), AB Williams, AB Street, AB Moffatt, and Captain Pockley (Australian Army Medical Corps). The other fatal casualty suffered during the operation was Lieutenant Commander Elwell, Royal Navy.
On 12 September a combined Navy and Army force was put ashore at nearby Herbertshöhe, while another landing force seized Rabaul. On 14 September Encounter shelled German positions at Toma, the first time an RAN vessel had fired on an enemy and the RAN’s first shore bombardment. The German resistance, comprising forty reservists and 110 native troops, was no match for the ANMEF, covered by the 12” guns of Australia, and the acting Governor surrendered all of German New Guinea on 17 September 1914. Subsequent operations occupied Bouganville and the New Guinea mainland colonies unopposed. The Governor’s steam yacht Komet, captured on 9 October 1914, was subsequently commissioned into RAN service as HMAS Una. The campaign was an overwhelming success, rapidly achieving all objectives set by the War Office. A RAN reserve officer, Lt Bond, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the first Australian bravery award of the war. In a tragic footnote, AE1 disappeared without trace with all 35 personnel on board, the first unit of the RAN to be lost on operations. On 26 September Sydney completed Australian operations against the German Pacific colonies by destroying the German wireless station at Angaur in the Palau Islands.
The Expeditionary Force was commanded by Colonel William Holmes, a citizen force officer commanding the 6th Brigade in Sydney as well as the Secretary of the Sydney Water Board. The ground forces comprised a battalion of infantry enlisted in Sydney, a 500 strong Naval Boarding party recruited from naval reservists and part of a battalion of Queensland forces which had been sent to the garrison at Thursday Island at the outbreak of hostilities. All men who took part in the operation were volunteers. After the operation many of these men were to re-enlist with the Australian forces for overseas service and were to see action later in Gallipoli and France.'
Source
Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp 252-253;