The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-30 00:00:00

DEATH OF EOLONEL MACKENZIE.

We regret to state that Colonel 'Kenneth_ MachenJe,
Awistant Quisrter•Miegtor•Gmeral, who has been en-
gaged at the 2,artntoor manoeuvres, has met with an
untimely death. Colonel Mackenzie wee, on Sunday
afternoon, corning from Green Hill Farm with the in-
tention of proceeding to the head-quarters camp. Be
was accompanied by CaptislO Cdionab, hia broLher•in-
law, vitt was drifiing. They had to cross Gratton
Ford, on the river Meavy, which was swollen through
the recent heavy rains, and just at this point there was
• heavy freshet. The colonel attempted to ford the
river, but In no doing the horse was swept oft its legs
and Cho catiiage overturned, and the occupants
were thrown into the river. Both officers were carried
down come di/Italica by the current, but each ultitnatsly
succeeded in reaching the bank, though greatly ex-
hausted. Captain Colomb then left the colonel to
obtain assistance with the view of moving the horse and
csrriage, the colonel saying," I am all right, and will
try and get the horse out." 'When the captain returned
with assistance he found the colonel lying on the bank
aead. Surgeon Dodd, of the Royal Engineers, states
that the colonel died in an apopletic tit, brought on by
over-exertion. The horse was drowned, having, with
the carriage, been carried down the river a conaider-
able distance. Colonel Mackenzie was not only an
excellent and able officer, but alsoin his private charac-
ter • most courteous and estimable man. His circle of
acquaintances was large, and he wee tudvereally liked
and respected.

The Timm in noticing the melancholy death of this gal-
lant officer, says :

The record of his services is an iritome of the history
of the work of the British Army in this generation.
For two and forty years he never bad harness off his
back. Hart begins the account of his career with the
arrest of Mr. Smith O'Brien under circumstances which
attest the COuillOPS and presence of mind of the officer,
but there in no allusion to the seventeen years of hard
duty at home and abroad which preceded that event,
and the meagre statement that "he was Quartermaster.
General of the Light Division in the Crimea," given but
small idea of the laboure of the indefatigable, earnest
right-hand man of Sir Cohn Campbell, who in snow and
rain and mud, night and day, ennehine or storm, toiled
on the wharf of Balaclava or in the camp all through
the labours of the dreary eiege, strong an the rocks
above him, and who never knew whst it was to doubt
or to complain, to weary or to censure. Scarcely was
his duty in the Crimea ended before he was called to
India, and there, during the Mutiny, he played an

important part with his usual enersry and decision. To
move • force with skill, to provide for its wants, to pug.
gest, foresee, and act, were hie least merits, for he could
command and contrire ; and his conduct in quelling a
dangerous mutiny won him "the thanks" of the Guyer-
General in Council. Hot from Indi% he was cent to
China as Deputy Quartermaster-General to the force
under Sir Hope Grant, and those woo were engaged
in the expedition can testify to the ability and zeal of
the veteran and to the value of his services. He served
oR the Staff in Ireland during another troublesome,
if not dangeroue, time, and when he was transferred
to the Howie Guards he bed full occasion for the
display ot his peculiar qualifications in the arrange-
ments for the Mesiceuvres' which owed to him
much of their success. And now, after so many
dangers and so much toil, be has found his death in a
ditch, before the honours he bad earned so well had
given more than thew first promise Some Colonels,
when they nee where they are and what they have got,
and think of what Kenneth Mackenzie did, must
feel that. to say the least of it, they have been
lucky." But he grudged no man's fortune. His
nature, kindly and ragged, was not envious of other's,
but he wae too sensible not to be aware that he was
not fortutiate. There may be many brilliant and
accomplished officers trained under our new system,
but we doubt if ever army will be better quartered or
camped or fed or led than it would have been by stout
Kenneth Mackenzie ; and no moldier need ever set before
himself a higher model for imitation than the homed,
gallant Highlander, who will ever be remembered with
affection by those with whom he served in every quarter
of the globe.

An inquest WA held st Roborough on the body of
Colonel Ilickenrie. The medical testimony went to
show that death resultod from syncope, accelerated by
exhaustion and immersion in the water. A verdict to
that effect was returned.