ANZAC Q&A - WHO WAS "FIGHTING MAC"?

Image: Salvation Army war chaplains in Egypt.

Q.   Who was "Fighting Mac"?
A.   Major William McKenzie was a highly experienced Salvation Army officer who volunteered in 1914 for service in the AIF as a chaplain. A large, imposing man, McKenzie endeared himself to the diggers of Anzac by his pragmatic, no nonsense approach to his ministry and by his constant devotion to the needs of the men. An example of this was an occasion when "Fighting Mac" noted the struggle that carrying parties had traversing a slope in the vicinity of his dugout; on his own initiative and without assistance he took a shovel and worked through the night to carve steps into the hillside to assist the men. ‘Fighting Mac’ would be awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his courage and devotion to duty and became one of the most well-known and well-loved members of the AIF. 

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Help pass the Anzac legend to the next generation with our fun educards. These questions and answers were created with the help of noted Australian military historian Graham Wilson.