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Lt. Col. Donald Alexander Mackenzie, D.S.O., 48th Highlanders of Canada
Family Life:
Military Service:
Donald was born on July 9th, 1914, to parents Margueretta and Kenneth at Kincardine, Ontario. He had
one brother, Robert Kenneth, who also served during the Second World War. At the time of his death,
Donald was married to Mary Louise and the couple had one child, Jaffrey Louise who resided in Toronto.
He worked for the Canadian Bank of Commerce before the outbreak of war.
Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie enlisted on September 8th, 1939, as an officer with the 48th Highlanders of
Canada for active service just two days before Canada declared war on Germany.
As part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Mackenzie and the 48th Highlanders proceeded over- seas in
December of 1939, where they bolstered the British defences during the Battle of Britain and the threat of
invasion. Lt. Col. Mackenzie and the 48th Highlanders were sent to the European continent during the
Battle of France, but were quickly returned to the United Kingdom as the blitzkrieg threatened to engulf the
country.
Military Service:
He continued to rise through the ranks as he was attached to Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery’s
staff in 1942. Lt. Col. Mackenzie returned to Canada to complete a Canadian Junior War Staff Course at
Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, and was subsequently transferred to the Head- quarters of
Pacific Command.
In August of 1943, he sailed back to the United Kingdom and was sent to Italy to rejoin the 48th
Highlanders. On June 24th, 1944, Lt. Col. Mackenzie was appointed Commanding Officer of the regiment.
As the Highlanders fought their way across the Lamone River in Northern Italy later that year, Mackenzie
was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his “outstanding leadership [and] resolute determination.”
The 48th Highlanders were relocated to northwest Europe to help liberate the Netherlands from Nazi
occupation. Early on the morning of April 12th, 1945, near the Dutch town of Wilp as Lt. Col. Mackenzie
was determining the position of his forward troops, he was killed by exploding shell.
Decorations:
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-1945
1939-45 Star
Italy Star
France and Germany Star Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Service Cross
Lessons Learned:
Donald Mackenzie was interred at Holten Canadian War Cemetery. He attended Ridley College for most of
his secondary school education before moving back to Owen Sound in the hopes of completing his senior
matriculation. His goal was to gain admittance to the Royal Military College of Canada. He proved to be a
popular student at the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute composing the school’s song, Stand
and Sing to the OSCVI.
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