Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following information.
Maurice Mackenzie was born into a well known medical family, on 14th June 1887, in London’s Holborn District and was baptised on 10th July 1887 in St Luke’s church in Islington. At the time of his baptism the young family lived at 26 Finsbury Square in Islington and Maurice’s father worked as a doctor of medicine.
Maurice’s father was called Sir Stephen Mackenzie and mother Lady Helen Mackenzie nee Dulley.
Stephen Mackenzie was born in 1844 in Leytonstone Essex and was baptised on 25th January 1845 at St John the Baptist church in Leytonstone. Stephen’s parents and Maurice’s grandparents were called Stephen (born about 1804 at St George in the East in Middlesex) and Margaret (nee Frances (born about 1815 at Lewes in Sussex)). Stephen snr was a general practitioner and the Member of Royal College of Surgeons. After his death, by the time of the 1861 Census, Stephen jnr’s mother Margaret became a schoolmistress at a boarding school in George Lane in Woodford.
Stephen’s father; Stephen; became a well known physician, who was knighted in 1909 and whose portrait can be found at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Sir Stephen Mackenzie died in the 3rd quarter of 1909 in Dorking Surrey. He was buried on 8th September 1909 in Dorking Cemetery. Sir Stephen Mackenzie studied at London Hospital and at Aberdeen University where he received his doctorate in 1875. He also studied in Berlin. After his studies Stephen began working as a physician at London Hospital. He was a lecturer in pathology, pathological anatomy and theoretical and clinical medicine and also was published in numerous journals and contributed to many medical books. Maurice’s mother Helen Dulley also came from a physician family. Helen was born in the 3rd quarter of 1841 at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. Helen’s parents and Maurice’s grandparents were called Benjamin (born about 1808 at Wellingborough Northamptonshire) and Fanny (born about 1805 at Great Paxton Huntingdonshire). Helen’s father was a consulting surgeon. Helens family must have been affluent as the 1871 Census reads that they employed a cook and a housemaid. Lady Helen died on 14th January 1921 in Dorking. She was buried on 18th January 1921 Dorking Cemetery. She was 79 years old. Lady Helen left to her two remaining sons, Stephen Morton Mackenzie esquire of 9 Rose Hill Dorking and Andrew Ronald Mackenzie Esquire of Woodwill Cottage Leatherhead, shares in the Great Western Railways. At the time of her death, Lady Helen lived at The Croft Avenue in Dorking. Stephen and Helen married in the 3rd quarter of 1879 at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.
Maurice had three older siblings: Stephen Morton born on 24th May 1880 and baptised on 23rd June 1880; Diana Helen born on 1st November 1882 and baptised on 18th December 1882, and Andrew Ronald born on 16th April 1884 and baptised on the 19th of May 1884, all at Finsbury St Luke in Islington.
From 1880 to 1887 (1887 was the year of Maurice’s baptism) the family lived at 26 Finsbury Square in Islington and the children’s father worked as a physician.
At the time of the 1881 census Stephen jnr was already married to Helen and the family: Stephen, Helen and 11 month old Stephen, were staying with Helen’s father Benjamin, a retired medical practitioner at Midland Road Brooklands in Wellingborough. Stephen jnr worked as a physician. He obtained his doctorate at Aberdeen University and became a member of the Fellow Royal College of Surgeons. Benjamin employed a cook, a housemaid and a nursemaid.
The 1891 Census reads that the family moved to The Vale Farm in Chesham Buckinghamshire. Stephen was a registered practitioner and physician and Maurice was 3 years old. The family was becoming (or already was) affluent in their own right and was able to employ a servant called Olive Simons: a 32 year old woman from Old Bolinbroke in Lincolnshire.
The 1901 census reads that the family moved to Merry Court in Great Bookham in Surrey (near Leatherhead). The family employed a lady’s maid, a housemaid and a cook. At the time of the census Maurice didn’t reside at home. 13 year old Maurice was a boarder of Lancelot Sanderson, a vicar and owner of the Elstree Hill House and School from Lancaster. The Elstree Hill House was situated at High Street, Elstree in Edgware in Middlesex.
By the 1911 census, Maurice had become a medical student. He was studying in London and the family was able to board Maurice in the household of Jonathan Hutchinsona consulting surgeon who lived in 1 Park Crescent St Marylebone, London (next to Regent’s Park). The household employed four servants and had 20 rooms. Maurice attended the Royal College of Physicians in London.
The 1915 Medical Register reads that Maurice Mackenzie was living in Croft Avenue in Dorking. He obtained Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (licence for physicians practising outside of London) in London 1912 and became a Member of Royal Collage of Physicians in England 1912.
Military History
Maurice Mackenzie became part of the Royal Army Medical Corps and was attached to the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles. He became a Temporary Lieutenant. Maurice Mackenzie and his friend Henry Wynyard Kaye disembarked in France on the 3rd of September 1914.
LIEUT. M. MACKENZIE KILLED WHILE ATTENDING A WOUNDED MAN
Lieut. Maurice Mackenzie, R.A.M.C attached 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, who we regret to state, is reported killed in action on France on November 28th, was the youngest son of the late Sir Stephen Mackenzie, 18 Cavendish Square. W and Lady Mackenzie, The Croft, Dorking and a nephew of the late Sir Morrell Mackenzie. He was educated at Elstree, Repton and the London Hospital, where he held many appointments and showed great promise in his profession. He will also be remembered there for his share in organising and performing in the Christmas entertainments.
At the outbreak of war he (Maurice) joined the Red Cross, and with his friend, Captain Kaye, R.A.M.C., organised a hospital at Chateau Laversine, which was placed at the disposal of the British Red Cross Society by Baron Robert de Rothschild. A large number of French and British wounded were successfully treated there until the advance to the Aisne caused the hospital to be evacuated. Kaye and Mackenzie then came home and joined the R.A.M.C. They were posted to the 43rd Field Ambulance, and after training in Aldershot went with the ambulance to France in April (1915), where Lieut. Mackenzie made himself loved and valued during a dangerous and difficult time. In August he was attached as Medical Officer to the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles and was with them in the attack of September 25th, and in the trenches til his death, when he was killed while attending a wounded man under fire. His Commanding Officer writes “Your son was a great favourite and a cheerful companion, with a high sense of duty. We lose a great friend and I and the Battalion lose an ideal medical officer.”
Lieut Mackenzie was well known in Dorking where he made his home and often helped his brother with his work.
Maurice was killed in action on 28th November 1915 in France. He is buried at Le Bized Cemetery Armentieres, Nord, in France. His grave reference is B.1. His oldest brother Dr Stephen Morton Mackenzie of 9 Rose Hill in Dorking Surrey had on Maurice’s headstone engraved “Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori” (it is sweet and right to die for your country).
Maurice remembered his brother; Lieut. Andrew Ronald Mackenzie in his will. On 28th March 1916 in London, on the date of probate, Andrew heard that Maurice left him £617. At the time of the probate Andrew was serving with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. Andrew also received £88, 11s and 9d in 1916 in Soldier’s Effects. Andrew became a Lieutenant on 7th January 1916. During 1916 and 1917 he was part of the Royal Navy Air Service. His regimental number was AA/545 and he received the Victory and the British medals.
Maurice received the Victory and the British War medals and the 1914 Star. He was also awarded by being mentioned in Dispatches. He was 28 years old.
Mr Mackenzie, R.A.M.C
Lieutentant Maurice Mackenzie, of the London Hospital R.A.M.C, attached 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (killed in action while attending an wounded officer under fire in France on November 28), was born in 1887. He was the third son of Sir Stephen Mackenzie, M.D. (died 1909), of 18 Cavendish Square, London, and of Lady Mackenzie, The Croft, Dorking. Mr Mackenzie was a nephew of the late Sir Morell Mackenzie. He was educated at Repton and London.
| Born | Holborn, London | |
| Son of | Sir Stephen Mackenzie and Lady Helen Mackenzie nee Dulley | |
| Regiment | Royal Army Medical Corps. Attached 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles | |
| Number | AA/545 | |
| Date of Death | 28th November 1915 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 28 | |
| Cemetery | Le Bizet Cemetery, Armentieres, France |
