Six: Captain A. D. Mackenzie, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War following the Fall of Tobruk; escaping from captivity following the Italian Armistice, he was killed in action at Bottola, Italy, on 6 October 1944, whilst fighting with the Partisans against the Germans

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Lieut. A. D. Mackenzie. Camerons.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (6) £260-£300

Archibald Donald Mackenzie was born in London on 22 October 1914, the son of Captain L. A. Mackenzie, Royal Engineers, who died of wounds during the Gallipoli campaign in October 1915, and was educated at Highfield School, Liphook, Winchester College, and Christ Church, Oxford. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders on 29 August 1936, and was promoted Lieutenant on 31 January 1938. He served with the 2nd Battalion in Palestine in 1938, and having been promoted Captain on 1 March 1940 (and temporary Major on 25 October 1941), served in the Second World War in the Western Desert, and was present at the Defence of Tobruk.

Eluding capture at the fall of Tobruk, Mackenzie was one of the party that escaped, but was overtaken and captured near Mersa Matruh. Held at a Prisoner of War camp at Viano, Italy, following the Italian armistice he escaped captivity and joined a band of the Red Star Brigade partisans. He was killed in action at Bottola, whilst fighting for the partisans against the Germans on 6 October 1944, and is buried at Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa, Italy: ‘His soul lived on amongst the Partisans, shining to them as a light from the mountains as an example of valour, scrupulous honesty, courage, and sacrifice.’

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