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The Man the Anzacs Revered: William "Fighting Mac" McKenzie, Anzac Chaplain
How did a wowser become an Anzac legend?
And how did this legend become unknown today?
William McKenzie was one of the most famous of the Anzacs, a legend for his work on Gallipoli and in France. For two decades after the war, he was literally mobbed by adoring soldiers and their families everywhere he went. However, McKenzie embodied almost everything the typical Anzac digger loved to hate. He was a Salvation Army chaplain, who preached against booze, brothels, betting and bad language. Yet McKenzie was respected and revered by the soldiers he served—and those who honour them should pay attention to his story.
“Amazingly, the most famous padre in the AIF has waited nearly a century for a full, sympathetic but careful biography. Daniel Reynaud does justice to Fighting Mac, looking beyond the legend to discern the man.”—Professor Peter Stanley, Australian Centre for the Study of Armed Conflict and Society, University of New South Wales.
And how did this legend become unknown today?
William McKenzie was one of the most famous of the Anzacs, a legend for his work on Gallipoli and in France. For two decades after the war, he was literally mobbed by adoring soldiers and their families everywhere he went. However, McKenzie embodied almost everything the typical Anzac digger loved to hate. He was a Salvation Army chaplain, who preached against booze, brothels, betting and bad language. Yet McKenzie was respected and revered by the soldiers he served—and those who honour them should pay attention to his story.
“Amazingly, the most famous padre in the AIF has waited nearly a century for a full, sympathetic but careful biography. Daniel Reynaud does justice to Fighting Mac, looking beyond the legend to discern the man.”—Professor Peter Stanley, Australian Centre for the Study of Armed Conflict and Society, University of New South Wales.
- GenresBiography
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
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28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 24, 2015
This biography on Fighting Mac, the legendary Salvation Army chaplain who worked with the ANZACs in World War I, was a little slow at the start. It did a lot of scene setting; perhaps a little more than was necessary. However, it soon settled into a nice rhythm and was enjoyable and well researched. It differentiated between those stories about Fighting Mac for which there was reliable evidence and those that had clearly been embroidered for greater effect. It was gripping, particularly in the accounts of the battles, and well worth reading, especially as we come up to the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing which introduced the ANZAC legend.
October 8, 2015
Informative
Daniel Reynaud has written a scholarly, yet very readable account of the life of William McKenzie, a First World War Salvation Army chaplain. The emphasis is on McKenzie’s war service but also touches on his early and later life. The book is well referenced and includes a bibliography and index as well as footnotes. McKenzie was a singular ‘larger than life’ man who was able to connect to the everyday soldier, breaking down barriers of scepticism with his community building through music and concerts, compassion shown through writing letters to loved ones of soldiers who had lost their lives and practical participation as a stretcher bearer alongside the men on the battlefield. I found it enlightening to see what a pivotal role this man played, including his advocacy for returned soldiers throughout his life. Highly recommended.
Daniel Reynaud has written a scholarly, yet very readable account of the life of William McKenzie, a First World War Salvation Army chaplain. The emphasis is on McKenzie’s war service but also touches on his early and later life. The book is well referenced and includes a bibliography and index as well as footnotes. McKenzie was a singular ‘larger than life’ man who was able to connect to the everyday soldier, breaking down barriers of scepticism with his community building through music and concerts, compassion shown through writing letters to loved ones of soldiers who had lost their lives and practical participation as a stretcher bearer alongside the men on the battlefield. I found it enlightening to see what a pivotal role this man played, including his advocacy for returned soldiers throughout his life. Highly recommended.
November 20, 2022
Until reading this book, I had not heard of William McKenzie and his deeds during World War I in Gallipoli and France.
Daniel Reynaud has obviously spent a lot of time researching this topic and separating legend from fact but still, this is an incredible story of resilience, bravery, faith, dedication and selflessness.
McKenzie was a Salvation Army chaplain who supported the Australian troops and one would think that due to his stance on drinking, gambling, bad language and sex, that he would not be popular with the boys - but they revered him. Why? Because McKenzie was not one to sit on the sidelines, he took his message to the front lines, but he also worked with the troops with compassion.
He was at the front to help the injured, to bury the dead and to write to their families. He was always there with a ear to listen and a helping hand.
Aside from his work in World War I, McKenzie was a strong and diligent force for the Salvation Army serving across Australia and also spent time in China.
An incredible Australian that has finally had his story told.
Daniel Reynaud has obviously spent a lot of time researching this topic and separating legend from fact but still, this is an incredible story of resilience, bravery, faith, dedication and selflessness.
McKenzie was a Salvation Army chaplain who supported the Australian troops and one would think that due to his stance on drinking, gambling, bad language and sex, that he would not be popular with the boys - but they revered him. Why? Because McKenzie was not one to sit on the sidelines, he took his message to the front lines, but he also worked with the troops with compassion.
He was at the front to help the injured, to bury the dead and to write to their families. He was always there with a ear to listen and a helping hand.
Aside from his work in World War I, McKenzie was a strong and diligent force for the Salvation Army serving across Australia and also spent time in China.
An incredible Australian that has finally had his story told.
December 21, 2022
Dull
Brilliant subject matter made dull. Awkward theological musing. Long sections that read like a travel itinerary. While the author is happy to diminish events that are not corroborated by other sources (To which Id like to respond, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence), he then takes tangents attempting to impugn motives, and psychoanalyse, uncorroborated by other sources.
Anyway, there are diamonds throughout, you just might have to dig through coal to find them.
Brilliant subject matter made dull. Awkward theological musing. Long sections that read like a travel itinerary. While the author is happy to diminish events that are not corroborated by other sources (To which Id like to respond, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence), he then takes tangents attempting to impugn motives, and psychoanalyse, uncorroborated by other sources.
Anyway, there are diamonds throughout, you just might have to dig through coal to find them.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews