Lieutenant Donald MacKenzie saved two lives

Lieutenant MacKenzie joined the Cumberland Highlanders as a private in 1936 and went overseas with the Royal Canadian Engineers in June 1941. He served with this unit in England until February 1944, when he was recommended for a commission. He was sent to Sandhurst, one of the first Canadian officers to be educated at the English school under British officers. He graduated on 21 September 1944, and in October 1944 he was conscripted to Belgium where he was attached to the Support Company of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

He served with this regiment during the heavy battles surrounding the Scheldt and Rhineland Campaign. During the heavy fighting for the Schipbeek Canal on 7 April 1945, MacKenzie and his pioneer section were responsible for the crossing. Under heavy German machine gun fire, MacKenzie managed to lay four planks across the canal so that the rest of his company could cross. During this action, MacKenzie was wounded by fragments of German hand grenades. He was nominated for a Military Cross for his brave efforts at the Schipbeek Canal, which he unfortunately received posthumously.

On Sunday morning on 22 April 1945, the regiment was ordered to attack Appingedam in the north of the Netherlands. There was heavy fighting on the outskirts of the city, with the leading companies coming under heavy fire from the German artillery positions along the coast of the port of Delfzijl.

MacKenzie was sent forward with his Support Company to clear mines on the road leading from Tjamsweer (near Appingedam) to the city. Two of his men were wounded when they were caught in machine gun fire as the unit tried to cross a bridge. MacKenzie made his way to the bridge under murderous German machine gun fire to evacuate the first wounded man. A little later he returned for the second wounded man and managed to reach a place of safety, while many of his comrades looked on in amazement at his daring action.

Shortly afterwards, he was killed by a sniper's bullet fired from a nearby building, and temporarily buried in Loppersum. Thanks to MacKenzie's actions, the city of Appingedam was liberated on 23 April 1945. He is said to be the only officer from Springhill, Nova Scotia to be awarded a Military Cross during World War II.