Great War vignettes
Chalmers Jack Mackenzie is remembered at the University of Saskatchewan as the first dean of engineering who went on to lead the National Research Council in 1939.
By University CommunicationsHe also designed the Broadway and Borden bridges in the 1930s.
In 1916, Mackenzie left behind a comfortable and safe career at the university to go overseas with the 54th battalion—but not before getting married. Mackenzie was immediately posted to the front. Writing from "somewhere in France" on Dec. 10, 1916, he confessed to President Walter Murray that he "never expected to get to the trenches before Christmas, but such is my good luck."
Mackenzie's bravado soon dissipated and he wondered whether he could withstand the strain of trench warfare. "This life is a very strange one," he wrote in one of his philosophical moments to Murray on Jan. 30, 1917. By March and the end of his first tour of duty at the front, he marvelled at how the Canadians had performed—in his words, "going through what no one could imagine men could do through.
Mackenzie was wounded, recovered and awarded the Military Cross for distinguished and meritorious services in battle. On May 11, 1945, the U of S conferred a Doctor of Laws on Chalmers Jack Mackenzie.
Following the city-wide service at SaskTel Centre on Nov. 11, there will be a wreath laying service at the Memorial Gates (near the College Drive entrance to Royal University Hospital) at 1:30 pm.