Biography:
Roderick Ian Mackenzie was born 27 May 1895, the second son of Sir Kenneth John Mackenzie and Lady Marjorie Mackenzie, daughter of Viscount Stormont, of Gairloch, Ross-shire. His elder brother, Hector David Mackenzie MC, also came to Winchester (K 1906-1910).
Roderick came to Winchester College from Mr GT Worsley's school at Hillingdon in January 1909. He was in K House, Kingsgate House. He left in the summer of 1911.
In 1914, he went to RMC Sandhurst, and was then gazetted into the Black Watch in October 1914. Riderick went to France in January 1915, joining the 1st Battalion at Bethune. They received orders to proceed to Cuinchy to fend off an enemy attack, and in the following counter-attack the casualty rate amongst the officers was high. Mackenzie, with no combat experience, found himself in command of D Company. They held their line through the night and were eventually relieved by another battalion and retired to Annequin.
Roderick fell at Rue du Bois on Sunday 11 April 1915. The war diary suggests that he was hit by shell-fire in the early evening.