Major Addison Alexander Mackenzie MC or "Lex" to his friends was born on November 1st, 1885, in Woodbridge, Ontario and was working as a clerk out the outbreak of the war. By this time he had ten years service with the Canadian Militia serving with the Governor General's Body Guard. Lex would become one of the original Officer's of the 4th CMR when it was formed, through the amalgamation of elements of the G.G.B.G., the 2nd Dragoons, 9th Mississauga Horse and the 25th Brant Dragoons.
During the Battle of the Somme, after the Canadian Corps had taken Courcellette, their next major objectives were a series of trenches to the north of the village. The final trench in the defensive position was Regina Trench. Located on the reverse slop of the crest of the ridge, it was difficult for the forward observation officers to bring the artillery to bear on the enemies wire.
Prior to the planned attack, Captain Mackenzie would lead a reconnaissance party to physically observe the effects of the artillery fire and later lead his men in assaulting the Germans positions. His efforts that day would earn him a Military Cross to which the citation reads;
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out a daring reconnaissance of the enemy's wire in daylight. Later he led his Company with great courage and determination, greatly assisting the bombers by sniping the enemy as they brought up reinforcements."
After the Somme the Canadian Corps would be moved into position for its part of the Battle of Arras. Their objective would be Vimy Ridge, a battle that would become a landmark victory for the Canadian Corps. Major Mackenzie's Company's objective that day was the Ridge between L'Ecole commune and La Folie Farm, but, soon after the assault began Lex would be wounded and taken out of the battle. His wound that day would also take him out of the front lines, but he would continue to serve in the Canadian Army's training system until the end of the war.
After the war Lex would return to Woodbridge and take over the family farm before entering politics. He was first elected to local Municipal Office's before entering and winning a seat in the Provincial Legislature. representing the riding of North York. As a sitting MPP for twenty-two years, he sat on many standing committees, most of them dealing with agriculture and natural resources. This was probably because of Lex's farming background making him a man of the soil. It was this interest that also saw him sitting on the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, as well as being a charter member of the Woodbridge Horticultural Society.
Addison Alexander Mackenzie died in 1970, leaving behind him a legacy of military and civic service. His service has been honoured through the naming of a major throughway; Major Mackenzie Drive, as well as Alexander Mackenzie High School and the Woodbridge branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
from: http://www.4cmr.com/mackenzieaa.htm
During the Battle of the Somme, after the Canadian Corps had taken Courcellette, their next major objectives were a series of trenches to the north of the village. The final trench in the defensive position was Regina Trench. Located on the reverse slop of the crest of the ridge, it was difficult for the forward observation officers to bring the artillery to bear on the enemies wire.
Prior to the planned attack, Captain Mackenzie would lead a reconnaissance party to physically observe the effects of the artillery fire and later lead his men in assaulting the Germans positions. His efforts that day would earn him a Military Cross to which the citation reads;
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out a daring reconnaissance of the enemy's wire in daylight. Later he led his Company with great courage and determination, greatly assisting the bombers by sniping the enemy as they brought up reinforcements."
After the Somme the Canadian Corps would be moved into position for its part of the Battle of Arras. Their objective would be Vimy Ridge, a battle that would become a landmark victory for the Canadian Corps. Major Mackenzie's Company's objective that day was the Ridge between L'Ecole commune and La Folie Farm, but, soon after the assault began Lex would be wounded and taken out of the battle. His wound that day would also take him out of the front lines, but he would continue to serve in the Canadian Army's training system until the end of the war.
After the war Lex would return to Woodbridge and take over the family farm before entering politics. He was first elected to local Municipal Office's before entering and winning a seat in the Provincial Legislature. representing the riding of North York. As a sitting MPP for twenty-two years, he sat on many standing committees, most of them dealing with agriculture and natural resources. This was probably because of Lex's farming background making him a man of the soil. It was this interest that also saw him sitting on the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, as well as being a charter member of the Woodbridge Horticultural Society.
Addison Alexander Mackenzie died in 1970, leaving behind him a legacy of military and civic service. His service has been honoured through the naming of a major throughway; Major Mackenzie Drive, as well as Alexander Mackenzie High School and the Woodbridge branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
from: http://www.4cmr.com/mackenzieaa.htm
Major Addison Alexander Mackenzie MC or "Lex" to his friends was born on November 1st, 1885, in Woodbridge, Ontario and was working as a clerk out the outbreak of the war. By this time he had ten years service with the Canadian Militia serving with the Governor General's Body Guard. Lex would become one of the original Officer's of the 4th CMR when it was formed, through the amalgamation of elements of the G.G.B.G., the 2nd Dragoons, 9th Mississauga Horse and the 25th Brant Dragoons.
During the Battle of the Somme, after the Canadian Corps had taken Courcellette, their next major objectives were a series of trenches to the north of the village. The final trench in the defensive position was Regina Trench. Located on the reverse slop of the crest of the ridge, it was difficult for the forward observation officers to bring the artillery to bear on the enemies wire.
Prior to the planned attack, Captain Mackenzie would lead a reconnaissance party to physically observe the effects of the artillery fire and later lead his men in assaulting the Germans positions. His efforts that day would earn him a Military Cross to which the citation reads;
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out a daring reconnaissance of the enemy's wire in daylight. Later he led his Company with great courage and determination, greatly assisting the bombers by sniping the enemy as they brought up reinforcements."
After the Somme the Canadian Corps would be moved into position for its part of the Battle of Arras. Their objective would be Vimy Ridge, a battle that would become a landmark victory for the Canadian Corps. Major Mackenzie's Company's objective that day was the Ridge between L'Ecole commune and La Folie Farm, but, soon after the assault began Lex would be wounded and taken out of the battle. His wound that day would also take him out of the front lines, but he would continue to serve in the Canadian Army's training system until the end of the war.
After the war Lex would return to Woodbridge and take over the family farm before entering politics. He was first elected to local Municipal Office's before entering and winning a seat in the Provincial Legislature. representing the riding of North York. As a sitting MPP for twenty-two years, he sat on many standing committees, most of them dealing with agriculture and natural resources. This was probably because of Lex's farming background making him a man of the soil. It was this interest that also saw him sitting on the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, as well as being a charter member of the Woodbridge Horticultural Society.
Addison Alexander Mackenzie died in 1970, leaving behind him a legacy of military and civic service. His service has been honoured through the naming of a major throughway; Major Mackenzie Drive, as well as Alexander Mackenzie High School and the Woodbridge branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
from: http://www.4cmr.com/mackenzieaa.htm
During the Battle of the Somme, after the Canadian Corps had taken Courcellette, their next major objectives were a series of trenches to the north of the village. The final trench in the defensive position was Regina Trench. Located on the reverse slop of the crest of the ridge, it was difficult for the forward observation officers to bring the artillery to bear on the enemies wire.
Prior to the planned attack, Captain Mackenzie would lead a reconnaissance party to physically observe the effects of the artillery fire and later lead his men in assaulting the Germans positions. His efforts that day would earn him a Military Cross to which the citation reads;
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out a daring reconnaissance of the enemy's wire in daylight. Later he led his Company with great courage and determination, greatly assisting the bombers by sniping the enemy as they brought up reinforcements."
After the Somme the Canadian Corps would be moved into position for its part of the Battle of Arras. Their objective would be Vimy Ridge, a battle that would become a landmark victory for the Canadian Corps. Major Mackenzie's Company's objective that day was the Ridge between L'Ecole commune and La Folie Farm, but, soon after the assault began Lex would be wounded and taken out of the battle. His wound that day would also take him out of the front lines, but he would continue to serve in the Canadian Army's training system until the end of the war.
After the war Lex would return to Woodbridge and take over the family farm before entering politics. He was first elected to local Municipal Office's before entering and winning a seat in the Provincial Legislature. representing the riding of North York. As a sitting MPP for twenty-two years, he sat on many standing committees, most of them dealing with agriculture and natural resources. This was probably because of Lex's farming background making him a man of the soil. It was this interest that also saw him sitting on the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, as well as being a charter member of the Woodbridge Horticultural Society.
Addison Alexander Mackenzie died in 1970, leaving behind him a legacy of military and civic service. His service has been honoured through the naming of a major throughway; Major Mackenzie Drive, as well as Alexander Mackenzie High School and the Woodbridge branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
from: http://www.4cmr.com/mackenzieaa.htm
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