Lieutenant Colonel Roderick MacKenzie: M.B.E. MC (1922 –2011)

Roderick joined the Army in 1939 and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery, Joining the 78(Lowland) Field Regiment RATA at Aberdeen for training before embarking for Egypt. His regiment fought in the battle of El Alamein, supporting the 1st Armoured Division. By the time victory in North Africa had been achieved he had been in action for more than two months. The regiment then took part in the invasion of Sicily and the Italian campaign, including the bitter battles at Anzio and Monte Cassino. He was mentioned in despatches for his efforts in Sicily and was awarded the Military Cross for his battery's support of the US 10th Mountain Division as they crossed the Po Valley. He was selected for a regular commission. After the war he was posted to P Battery Royal Horse Artillery, part of 6 RHA which was about to depart for India. After the partition, 6RHA went to Palestine and he took part in the peacekeeping operation. He married Mary MacFarllane, a New Zealander, in 1951. In 1959 MacKenzie was promoted to Major and assumed the command of 41 Parachute Light Battery in 33 Regiment RA, based at Aldershot.  He then became DAA and QMG of 16 Parachute Brigade - at that time a rare honour for a Gunner officer. In 1963 during an exercise in Greece, he suffered a bad accident when a Landrover overturned and he underwent serious surgery. In 1964 Roderick, at the age of forty-two, was offered the command of 23 SAS.  which he accepted. In that same year he was appointed MBE.

His father in law offered him the opportunity to take over his farm in Akanui, New Zealand which he accepted as from 1967. He  served as president of the Mid-Canterbury Federated farmers and as a councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society.