HLI Chronicle 1915 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

12!S HIGHLAND 1.IGHT INFANTRY CHRONICLE.
In Memoriam.
COLIN LANDSEER MACKENZIE.
A MEMORIAL Brass has been erected in the
baptistery of St. John's-the church in which
he worshipped, whenever he was at home,
from the days of his early childhood, and
which I think I may take it upon me to say he
loved'---to the memory of their only son, Cotin,
by Mr. and )irs. Landseer Mackenzie. The
inscription upon the Brass tells its simple,
sad, but glorious story. I say "glorious"
deliberately, for he gave his life for King,
home, and country; and that is a gl~rious
thing to do. It is only by such saCrifices,
we know well, that this dear land and all that
we hold most precious in life can be saved from
utter and irretrievable ruin.
We, therefore, who are too old to fight,
and all who for whatever reason cannot fight,
should hold, and surely do hold, a sacrifice
like this in highest honour; while to those who
are young and vigorous but have not yet heard
the call, the record of this sacrifice will surely
speak, telling them that there are nobler things
to think of, at a time like this, than even the
things which are noblest in a time of peace.
None can look at this Brass and read its story
without feeling how much we owe to those
young heroes who with such magnificent
? courage are facing day by day dangers and
horrors. of which we at home can scarcely
form any conception, and how much we owe,
too, to the fathers and mothers who, though
it breaks their heart, bid them go because
it is their duty.
The inscription on the Brass is as follows :­
.[The arms of the Mackenzie family.
Motto: "Ferendum et Sperandum.]
In memory of a dear and only son, Colin
Landseer Mackenzie, Sec. I,ieut. the
Highland Light Infantry (74th), .who
fell in action at the battle of the Alsne,
'Ju on Sunday, 20th September, 1914. Aged
T 22 years. His body was buried on the
Ex ridge above Verneuil.
()
Death is swallowed up In victory.
The Brass was dedicated on the Vigil of
St. }Iatthew's Day, the anniversary of the day
on which he died, in the presence of many
friends, at a special service. The ser~ce
consisted of a celebration of Holy Commulllon,
the form of dedication prescribed for use in the
Diocese of Winchester, some special prayers,
and the hymns "The King of Love my
Shepherd is" and "On the Resurrection
morning." C. S. M.
-St. John the Evangelist (Bournemouth)
Magazine.
Obitu~ry.
IT must have been a great grief to all to learn
that Captain Cameron's body had at last been
found. Reported missing since the 20th
December, 1914, we still had a hope-slender
though it was-that he might be a prisoner.
Then at the beginning of this month the
worst was confirmed without doubt, and those
days of anxious hoping were over. That his
end was sudden and painless is some slight
consolation, as also the fact that he was found
and buried on the field of battle by Scotsmen
and Highlanders of the Regiment whose name
he bore.
To no officer does the 1st Battalion owe more
than to" Cammy." Gazetted to the Regiment
in May, 1901, after spending a few months
with the 2nd Battalion he joined the 1st
Battalion in South Africa (towards the end
of the Boer War) in October of the same year.
Quiet and unassuming, with charming manners,
he very soon showed his capabilities as an
officer. He was so thorough and conscientious,
with an infinite capacity for taking pains,
that everything he did he did well.
He was before all a regimental officer, with
a very high sense of "esprit de corps," and
sacrificed many personal advantages for the
sake of the Battalion. His example in life,
too, had a very great moral influence with all
ranks, which latter quality was most conspicuous
during the period (Aug., 1908 to
Aug., 1911) he was Adjutant of the 1st Battalion,
and later as a Company Commander.
Promoted Captain in 1912, he took over command
of "B" Company, the Company in
which he had served as a Subaltern. A good
shot with revolver and rifle himself, his
Company were the best shooting Company
in the Battalion during the next two years.
In all games and sports especially he took a
leading part. During both years of his
command " B " Company was the champion
Company at games, willlling the Stockwell
Challenge Shield on both occasions. He was
a very keen and successful shikari, his leave in
India being always spent pig-sticking or with
rifle and rod. A good though not a strong
rider, he was the best No. 1 at polo in the