Colin John Mackenzie

Major-General Sir Colin John Mackenzie, KCB (26 November 1861–7 July 1956) was a British soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from 1910 until 1913. He was the eldest son of Major-General Colin Mackenzie.

[edit] Military career

Major General Mackenzie was commissioned into the Bedfordshire Regiment of the British Army, at the time the 16th Regiment of Foot in January, 1881. He was posted to many regions, including: Egypt (1882), Burma (1886), Hazara (1888), Gilgit (1890–1891), Waziristan (1894–1895), the Nile (1898) and South Africa (1899–1902). After the Boer War, he started on a path of staff positions, being appointed Assistant Quartermaster General of the 5th Division in 1902 and later, in 1905, Assistant Adjutant-General of Army Headquarters. He was appointed as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 4th Brigade and later 6th Brigade despite never having commanded a battalion. From 1910 to 1913, he was Chief of the General Staff, Canada. On 3 March 1914, he became the first commander of the Highland Division Task Force. Due to the beginning of World War I and the death of the division's commander, he took command of 3rd Division on the Western Front. He was soon fired and held several positions until his retirement on 1 April 1920.