The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Last edited by spoons on Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:14 am; edited 2 times in total

UKNIWM Ref: not known

OS Map Ref: NY 252 662

The memorial was originally erected in Annan Academy where Robert Mackenzie was the Janitor and Attendance Officer. The memorial was originally accompanied by a brass plaque with details of how it came to be raised. I think that the memorial was moved some time in the 80s or 90s when the school memorial was taken down (it has since been reinstated) and the school Dux board became the roof of a hen house! – that is also now back in the school. The memorial is now in the Devil’s Porridge museum but is now missing the brass plaque.

At the age of 59, Robert Mackenzie is perhaps a contender for the oldest soldier to be killed in combat during the war.

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

WMR 77701.

Reading the plaque, and especially the story of the Dux Board becoming a hen house I think this is from Annan Academy, rather than Dumfries Academy, or am I missing something!!

Confused

spoons · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:25 pm Post subject:

thanks - need to use more mental floss!

post amended

\Paul

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:30 pm Post subject:

Robert MacKenzie – age 59 – Pipe-Major (14851) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert had served in the army for many years and had been awarded Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. He became the caretaker of the drill-hall in Dumfries until 1897 and for the next 18 years he was the attendance officer of Annan School Board. In spite of his age he volunteered and was accepted for service and he landed with the 6th KOSB at Boulogne in May 1915. Robert was wounded during the battle of Loos on 25th September and died in the 25th General Hospital at Dannes-Camiers. He was Mentioned in Despatches.
Born 1856 in Duthil, Inverness-shire/Elginshire. Son of the late Robert and Mary (Murchison) MacKenzie. Husband of Jane (Dargie) Mackenzie of Ednam Street, Annan and of 40 Cliff Street, Yonkers, New York, U.S.A. who he married in 1879 in St. Andrew, Edinburgh.
His daughter Elizabeth was born c.1882 in Ireland, his sons - Robert was born c.1885 in Ireland, George was born c.1887 in England, Ronald c.1892 in India, and his daughter Margaret was born in 1897 in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Died of Wounds on 8 October 1915 and buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Annan Academy memorial and on the Annan War Memorial.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard 9/9/1916 p.2
MEMORIAL TO ANNAN SOLDIER
An oval bronze memorial to the late Pipe- Major Mackenzie, attendance officer of Annan School Board, has been erected in the hall of Annan Public School. The cost has been defrayed principally the children attending the school, assisted by the children of the Academy, Breconbeds, and St CoJumba’s, while the remainder has been contributed by the staffs of all the schools, the members of the Board, a few friends, and some former scholars. This is recorded on a small brass plate, mounted on an oak base, beneath the memorial, and on the memorial itself is the following inscription “In memory of Pipe-Major Robert Mackenzie, 6th K.O.S.B., who, after eighteen years faithful service as attendance officer of Annan School Board, died the age of fifty-nine, from wounds received on September 25th, 1915, at Loos, France.” The inscription is surrounded a wreath of laurel and oak with intertwined ribbons, the continuity of the border being broken at the top by the regimental arms the K.O.S.B., and at the bottom by the Annan burgh arms, and the wreath is the emblem of victory, not of mourning.

and the book 'Floo'ers O' The Forest - Fallen Pipers of The Great War' has this recorded : -
Born at Grantown-on-Spey about 1856. Enlisted in the 78th Highlanders (no,337) in November, 1874 and was appointed Piper in November, 1876. Purchased his discharge in October,1878 and re-enlisted in The King's Own Scottish Borderers (no.276I) in July of the following year. Appointed Pipe-Major and served with the 2nd Battalion in the action at Gemaizah in 1888. (Sudan) Awarded the medal for Long Service and Good Conduct and retired to pension in October, 1896. Employed 16 years as Truant Officer for the Annan School Board, Dumfriesshire where he had resided at Ednam Street. Volunteered for service in the Great War. Went to France as Pipe-Major of the 6th (Service) Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers, in the 9th (Scottish) Division. Mentioned in Field-Marshall French's despatch of 30th November, 1915 for his gallantry at Loos (‘London Gazette’ 29422, 1st January, 1916). He had been gassed and wounded on the 25th September while playing the Battalion over the parapet when shot in both legs. Though he managed to crawl back to his own lines, his leg had to be amputated and he died of shock shortly afterward. "He was the finest and grandest old man in the Regiment, and we were justly proud of him." Died of his wounds on the 8th October,1915 "having well deserved the V.C." Because of his age, about 59, he had been offered the position of Battalion postman, but insisted on staying with his Company. Survived by his wife, Mrs. Jane MacKenzie of 40 Cliff Street,Yonkers, New York.
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:32 pm Post subject:

Robert MacKenzie – age 59 – Pipe-Major (14851) 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Robert had served in the army for many years and had been awarded Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. He became the caretaker of the drill-hall in Dumfries until 1897 and for the next 18 years he was the attendance officer of Annan School Board. In spite of his age he volunteered and was accepted for service and he landed with the 6th KOSB at Boulogne in May 1915. Robert was wounded during the battle of Loos on 25th September and died in the 25th General Hospital at Dannes-Camiers. He was Mentioned in Despatches.
Born 1856 in Duthil, Inverness-shire/Elginshire. Son of the late Robert and Mary (Murchison) MacKenzie. Husband of Jane (Dargie) Mackenzie of Ednam Street, Annan and of 40 Cliff Street, Yonkers, New York, U.S.A. who he married in 1879 in St. Andrew, Edinburgh.
His daughter Elizabeth was born c.1882 in Ireland, his sons - Robert was born c.1885 in Ireland, George was born c.1887 in England, Ronald c.1892 in India, and his daughter Margaret was born in 1897 in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Died of Wounds on 8 October 1915 and buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Annan Academy memorial and on the Annan War Memorial.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard 9/9/1916 p.2
MEMORIAL TO ANNAN SOLDIER
An oval bronze memorial to the late Pipe- Major Mackenzie, attendance officer of Annan School Board, has been erected in the hall of Annan Public School. The cost has been defrayed principally the children attending the school, assisted by the children of the Academy, Breconbeds, and St CoJumba’s, while the remainder has been contributed by the staffs of all the schools, the members of the Board, a few friends, and some former scholars. This is recorded on a small brass plate, mounted on an oak base, beneath the memorial, and on the memorial itself is the following inscription “In memory of Pipe-Major Robert Mackenzie, 6th K.O.S.B., who, after eighteen years faithful service as attendance officer of Annan School Board, died the age of fifty-nine, from wounds received on September 25th, 1915, at Loos, France.” The inscription is surrounded a wreath of laurel and oak with intertwined ribbons, the continuity of the border being broken at the top by the regimental arms the K.O.S.B., and at the bottom by the Annan burgh arms, and the wreath is the emblem of victory, not of mourning.

and the book 'Floo'ers O' The Forest - Fallen Pipers of The Great War' has this recorded : -
Born at Grantown-on-Spey about 1856. Enlisted in the 78th Highlanders (no,337) in November, 1874 and was appointed Piper in November, 1876. Purchased his discharge in October,1878 and re-enlisted in The King's Own Scottish Borderers (no.276I) in July of the following year. Appointed Pipe-Major and served with the 2nd Battalion in the action at Gemaizah in 1888. (Sudan) Awarded the medal for Long Service and Good Conduct and retired to pension in October, 1896. Employed 16 years as Truant Officer for the Annan School Board, Dumfriesshire where he had resided at Ednam Street. Volunteered for service in the Great War. Went to France as Pipe-Major of the 6th (Service) Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers, in the 9th (Scottish) Division. Mentioned in Field-Marshall French's despatch of 30th November, 1915 for his gallantry at Loos (‘London Gazette’ 29422, 1st January, 1916). He had been gassed and wounded on the 25th September while playing the Battalion over the parapet when shot in both legs. Though he managed to crawl back to his own lines, his leg had to be amputated and he died of shock shortly afterward. "He was the finest and grandest old man in the Regiment, and we were justly proud of him." Died of his wounds on the 8th October,1915 "having well deserved the V.C." Because of his age, about 59, he had been offered the position of Battalion postman, but insisted on staying with his Company. Survived by his wife, Mrs. Jane MacKenzie of 40 Cliff Street,Yonkers, New York.
_________________
Ken