Colin Mackenzie

Rear-Admiral Colin Mackenzie, C.I.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy, Retired (26 May, 1872 – 22 June, 1968) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Mackenzie gained eleven months' time on passing out of Britannia in July 1887. On the 30th, he was appointed to Raleigh on the Cape of Good Hope Station.

Mackenzie was appointed to Orlando on the Australia Station on 15 August, 1892. On 24 June 1893 he was tried by Court Martial for having arrived back on board drunk, having been seen by Captain St. Clair drinking at a ball on board the Austrian ship Kaiserin Elizabeth. The charge was not proved, however, and Mackenzie was acquitted.

Mackenzie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1893 but his promotion was cancelled due to misconduct on 11 April, 1894. Subjected to reports after six months, he seemed to have improved his outlook and was finally promoted to Lieutenant dated 30 September, 1894.

On 19 November 1895 he was invalided from Malta Hospital. He was sent to Plymouth Hospital and was found fit again on 9 February, 1896.

Mackenzie was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1906. On 20 July, he reported that he was to have a minor surgical procedure to treat varicose veins the following day at King Edward VII which would require a few weeks to recover. He was again fit on 27 September.

Mackenzie was appointed in command of the destroyer Nubian on 24 August, 1909, attending an inspection for her acceptance from Thornycroft on the 26th at 12.30pm. Later in the year, an inspection found that the ship's clothes lockers should receive more frequent inspection and that storage of ammunition indicated a need for more frequent exercise.

Mackenzie was appointed in command of Clio on 25 June, 1912 but was unable to take command before 25 October. In September 1913, he was thanked for providing valuable service during disturbances in China.

In 1915 he was mentioned by Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf as having provided great assistance during an advance from Kurmch (?) and a subsequent occupation of Amara in June, 1915.

Mackenzie was superseded in command of Clio in DEcember, 1915. He left Bombay in Arabia on 1 February, 1916 and arrived in England on 17 February unfit. He was found fit on 31 March 1916.

Mackenzie was promoted to the rank of Captain on 19 July, 1918. On 27 August, he was appointed as Captain for Maintenance Duties on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.

Post-War

On 28 April, 1920, Mackenzie ceased his work at Portsmouth.

Mackenzie was appointed in command of the battleship Thunderer when she was recommissioned as a Cadet Training Ship in on 1 October, 1920. A brief, temporary stint in command of Conqueror interspersed his command of Thunderer in 1921 before he was superseded in command on 2 January, 1923.

Mackenzie was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 12 January, 1923 and was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on the Retired List on 8 August, 1926.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Edward Kelly	Captain of H.M.S. Whiting 28 Jul, 1900 – 3 Jan, 1903	Succeeded by Charles P. Mansel
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Nubian 24 Aug, 1909 – 1 Apr, 1911	Succeeded by Frank F. Rose
Preceded by Richard W. U. Bayly	Captain of H.M.S. Star 6 May, 1911 – 21 Nov, 1911	Succeeded by Robert Jeffreys
Preceded by Thomas P. Bonham	Captain of H.M.S. Blonde 21 Nov, 1911 – 1 May, 1912	Succeeded by Arthur R. Hulbert
Preceded by Henry R. Veale	Captain of H.M.S. Clio 25 Jun, 1912 – Dec, 1915	Succeeded by Arthur W. Lowis
Preceded by Francis W. Caulfeild	Captain of H.M.S. Juno 13 Jul, 1912 – 25 Jul, 1912	Succeeded by Guy M. Marston
Preceded by Alan Dixon	Captain of H.M.S. Himalaya 3 Apr, 1916 – 16 Jul, 1918	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Alan Dixon	Captain of H.M.S. Thunderer 1 Oct, 1920 – 5 May, 1921	Succeeded by Herbert G. Briggs
Preceded by Cecil M. Staveley	Captain of H.M.S. Conqueror c. Apr, 1921[Inference] – 5 May, 1921	Succeeded by Frank Powell