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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Donald Alexander MacKenzie

In memory of:

Lieutenant Colonel Donald Alexander MacKenzie

April 12, 1945
Netherlands

Military Service


Age:

30

Force:

Army

Unit:

48th Highlanders of Canada

Honours and Awards:

Distinguished Service Order

Additional Information


Born:

July 9, 1914
Kincardine, Ontario

Enlistment:

September 8, 1939
Toronto, Ontario

Son of Kenneth and Marguerette MacKenzie of Owen Sound, Ontario. Husband of Mary MacKenzie of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on the Lt. Col. Donald MacKenzie Plaque.

Commemorated on Page 537 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

I. C. 11.

Location:

Holten is a village 20 kilometres east of the town of Deventer, on the main A1 motorway from Amsterdam to Bremen in Germany. Following the A1 motorway, turn off at exit 26 and follow the N332 in the direction of Holten. Follow the N332 until reaching a signpost for Holterberg. Turn right onto the N344 in the direction of Holten, then at the T junction turn left towards Holten and follow this road to the roundabout. Take second exit then turn first right towards Holterberg. Follow this road uphill until you see a green Commission sign pointing to the right. Turn right down the track and follow to the end. Turn left and the cemetery lies along here on the left hand side.

Historical Information: The Netherlands fell to the Germans in May 1940 and was not re-entered by Allied forces until September 1944. The great majority of those buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery died during the last stages of the war in Holland, during the advance of the Canadian 2nd Corps into northern Germany, and across the Ems in April and the first days of May 1945. After the end of hostilities the remains of over 1,300 Canadian soldiers were brought together into this cemetery.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute Second World War Memorial. Image courtesy of Owen Sound Collegiate (OSCVI) Digital Soldier Library.
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram February 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times July 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times April 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times April 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Donald Alexander MacKenzie– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJaklJjTTEI 
Screenshot 7.33 
Lt-col Donald Alexander MACKENZIE 48th Highlanders of Canada on 11 April 1945 in Gorssel. Meeting point near the Molenweg/Veerweg ready to cross the IJssel. The next day during an attack on the village of Hoven, the commander unfortenately dies.

War Diary 48th Highlander of Canada (1944/05-1945/08)
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=928086&new=-8585603877873942696 

Crossing river "De IJssel" Gorssel - Wilp as part of Operation Cannonshot liberation North East Netherlands. 
 Both "A" & "B" Coys reached these objectives by 1400 hours against MMG and SP gun fire. TAC HQ was at this stage in the process of moving to MR 913044 when -Lt-col D.A.MACKENZIE, the Commanding Officer, was killed by a shell and the I.O. wounded.
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Hamilton Spectator July 28th 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Donald A. Mackenzie– Lieutenant Colonel Donald Alexander Mackenzie
  • Photo of Donald MacKenzie– Born 9th July, 1914, at Kincardine, Ontario. On active service 19th September, 1930.  Lieutenant-Colonel in June, 1944. Graduated with high honours and posted to Pacific Command as G.S.O. 2 (Operations). Returned to England and served on Headquarters Staff before rejoining 48th Highlanders of Canada in Italy as Second in Command in December, 1943.  Appointed  a Companion of THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (Canada Gazette, 24th March, 1945) The official citation reads: - "At 2130 hours, 10 December, 1944, the 48th Highlanders of Canada, under command the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, commenced the crossing of the Lamone River. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie, though still suffering from the effects of a severe case of jaundice, nevertheless came forward from 'B' Echelon to assume active command of the Battalion for this operation. Although pressed for time, owing to his recent arrival, he showed such an immediate grasp of the tactical situation and such energy and determination in reconnaissance, that he was able immediately to formulate a plan which, when put into execution, was a complete success. By 2230 hours that night two companies were over complete, and the bridgehead so firmly established that it was made available to another Battalion which had not been able to cross on its own front. By 0700 hours, 11 December, the entire Battalion had consolidated across the river."  "During the period from the crossing of the Lamone River the Battalion took one hundred and forty prisoners of war and killed and wounded approximately one hundred and fifty-four Germans. The cost to the Battalion in killed was only fourteen all ranks."  From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.
  • Photo of D. A. Mackenzie in Italy– Donald Mackenzie at Rimini, Italy.
  • Photo of Donald A. Mackenzie– Lieutenant Colonel Donald Alexander Mackenzie, D.S.O.,D.S.C.
48th Highlanders of Canada.
  • Wedding Day– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Group Photo– As a student of the OSCVI, Mackenzie was a member of the senior rugby team. Photo courtesy of OSCVI Digital Soldier Library.
  • Distinguished Service Cross– Awarded posthumously for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel Donald A. MacKenzie, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy on 12 April 1945. When the 48th Highlanders of Canada had crossed the Ijssel River and gained their initial objectives on the Wilp-Deventer Road, Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie, realizing that this was the turning point of the battle, went forward fearlessly in the face of heavy enemy fire to make a personal reconnaissance in preparation for the second phase of the attack. His plan of attack, based on the information he gained, was eminently successful, and his unsurpassed leadership and daring resulted in the complete rout of the enemy.
General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945)
Action Date: 12-Apr-45
Service: Canadian Army
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Regiment: 48th Highlanders of Canada
  • Newspaper Clipping
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Plaque– Plaque in Wilp, Netherlands
  • Grave Marker for Donald A. Mackenzie– Grave Marker for Donald Alexander Mackenzie.
Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands
  • Grave Marker
  • Grave Marker

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